G20 Summit adopts Leaders’ Declaration despite US boycott, objections

By Anjali Sharma

WASHINGTON – G20 member nations on Saturday adopted a joint Leaders’ Declaration called for strengthened multilateral cooperation to address shared global challenges.

“We meet against the backdrop of rising geopolitical and geo-economic competition and instability, heightened conflicts and wars, deepening inequality, and increasing global economic uncertainty and fragmentation. In the face of this challenging political and socio-economic environment, we underscore our belief in multilateral cooperation to collectively address shared challenges,” the declaration stated.

The Leaders’ Declaration further reaffirmed that, in line with the UN Charter, all states must refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition against the territorial integrity, sovereignty, or political independence of any state.

It also stressed the need for states to foster friendly relations among nations, including by promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction based on race, sex, language, or religion.

The declaration called for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“We concur that, guided by the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter in its entirety, we will work for a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Ukraine, as well as ending other conflicts and wars around the globe. Only with peace will we achieve sustainability and prosperity,” it said.

The declaration was adopted despite objections from the United States, which boycotted the 2025 G20 Summit over allegations of persecution of white Afrikaners in South Africa.

The US had argued that the declaration should not be adopted as it was not participating in the summit and therefore the document would not be unanimous.

The White House stated that no US officials would attend the summit, except for embassy representatives who would participate only in the concluding ceremony marking the handover of the next G20 Summit, which will be hosted by the United States.