‘The Americans are not coming’ SA officials confirm on G20 closing ceremony
‘The Americans are not coming’ SA officials confirm on G20 closing ceremony, ending days of speculation regarding the United States’ participation in the historic summit’s final proceedings. In a briefing that underscored the depth of the current diplomatic row, South African government representatives stated definitively that the G20 presidency would be handed over to an “empty chair” rather than a junior official, cementing the reality of the US boycott.
The confirmation came from Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) spokesperson Chrispin Phiri, who told reporters on Saturday that Pretoria had officially marked the United States as “absent.” This decision follows a tense week of negotiations where Washington reportedly attempted to downgrade its representation to a level South Africa deemed a breach of protocol.
A Historic Snub at the G20 Summit South Africa
The G20 summit South Africa has been a landmark event, representing the first time the group has met on African soil. However, the event has been overshadowed by the absence of US President Donald Trump and his administration.
While other leaders like Russia’s Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping also skipped the event, they sent high-level delegations empowered to negotiate. The US, in contrast, initially signaled a total boycott.
“We will mark them absent, and we have marked them absent. You can see the whole world is here, and that is what we want to focus on. Those who are not present are not present — it is what it is,” Phiri said, effectively confirming the sentiment that ‘The Americans are not coming’ SA officials confirm on G20 closing ceremony.
The tension peaked when US officials reportedly proposed sending a chargé d’affaires—a relatively junior diplomat—to receive the G20 gavel during the closing ceremony handover. Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya rejected this proposal outright, stating it would be inappropriate for a Head of State to hand over the presidency of the world’s premier economic forum to a low-ranking embassy official.
The “Empty Chair” Handover
The refusal to accept a junior diplomat has led to an unprecedented scenario for the closing ceremony handover. President Cyril Ramaphosa had previously indicated he was prepared to hand over the presidency to an “empty chair,” a symbolic gesture that highlights the US isolation on this issue.
‘The Americans are not coming’ SA officials confirm on G20 closing ceremony, meaning the visual of the empty seat will likely become the enduring image of the summit’s conclusion. This “coercion by absentia,” as some South African diplomats have termed it, was intended to delegitimize the summit’s outcomes. However, South Africa appears to have outmaneuvered this tactic by rallying the other 19 members.
Adoption of the Declaration
Despite the US boycott and reported pressure from Washington to block a joint communiqué, the summit achieved a significant victory on Saturday. In a break with tradition, President Ramaphosa moved to adopt the “G20 Leaders’ Declaration” at the start of the summit rather than the end.
Ramaphosa announced that a consensus had been reached, bypassing potential US objections that might have derailed the final day.
“We will not be bullied. We will not agree to be bullied,” Ramaphosa had stated earlier in the week, referring to US attempts to block the declaration in their absence.
Impact on the Diplomatic Row
The confirmation that ‘The Americans are not coming’ SA officials confirm on G20 closing ceremony deepens the diplomatic row between Pretoria and Washington. The rift stems from the Trump administration’s revival of allegations regarding the treatment of white farmers in South Africa—claims Pretoria has vehemently rejected as baseless.
Analysts suggest that while the boycott was meant to punish South Africa, it may have backfired. By staying away, the US ceded the floor to other global powers.
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China and Russia: maintain their influence within the bloc.
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The EU: stepped up as a “reliable partner,” signing major trade deals with South Africa during the summit.
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The Global South: unified around South Africa’s agenda of debt relief and climate justice.
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Conclusion: A Summit Defined by Who Showed Up
As the summit wraps up at the Nasrec Expo Centre, the narrative has shifted from who isn’t there to what was achieved by those who are. By confirming ‘The Americans are not coming’ SA officials confirm on G20 closing ceremony, the host nation has effectively drawn a line under the distraction.
The G20 summit South Africa will close with a declaration signed by the majority of the world’s economic powers, proving that multilateralism can survive unilateral withdrawals. As the gavel is placed on the empty chair this Sunday, it will serve not just as a symbol of the US absence, but of South Africa’s resilience in ensuring the “show goes on.”
Here are two references from mainstream South African media confirming the details of the US absence and the closing ceremony protocol:
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Mail & Guardian
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Headline: South African government marks US ‘absent’ for G20 leaders summit
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Date: November 22, 2025
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The Mercury
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Headline: Stalemate: Ramaphosa refuses to hand over G20 presidency to US low-ranking chargé d’affaires
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Date: November 21, 2025
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