From Trump’s absence to India’s presence: Why an empty chair at the G20 will define this year’s summit

Banners of (from L to R) India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung are displayed on pillars of an highway overpass in Johannesburg on November 20, 2025 ahead of the G20 leader's Summit. (Photo by GIANLUIGI GUERCIA / AFP)

The G20 Summit in Johannesburg was meant to be a celebration, the first-ever gathering of the world’s largest economies on African soil. Instead, it is set to be remembered for something entirely different: an empty chair.

When South African President Cyril Ramaphosa formally hands over the G20 presidency at the closing ceremony, there will be no leader waiting to receive it. The next chair of the G20, the United States, will be missing from the stage. President Donald Trump has decided to boycott the summit, turning what could have been a moment of global unity into a symbol of division.

Trump’s absence and the US boycott

For the first time in G20 history, no representative from the United States, not even a delegate, will attend the summit. The White House has claimed that the decision stems from concerns about the alleged mistreatment of South Africa’s white minority. Washington has accused Pretoria of allowing “genocide of White Afrikaners,” an accusation that South African officials have dismissed as baseless.

No previous US administration has used this reasoning to skip a multilateral summit. Observers say the boycott fits into Trump’s domestic political agenda and his long-standing skepticism toward global cooperation. For Trump, the G20 appears to be less about partnership and more about politics at home.

His decision also isolates the United States on an international stage where it once set the tone. As the world’s largest economy and a founding G20 member, America’s absence will be both symbolic and strategic, and its empty chair is expected to become the most photographed image of the entire event.

South Africa’s calm response

Despite the snub, President Cyril Ramaphosa has remained unfazed. Speaking to local media, he said:

“My experience in politics is that boycotts never really work. They have a very contradictory effect. The United States by not being at the G20, one, must never think that we are not ready to go on with the G20. The G20 will go on. All other heads of states will be here, and, in the end, we will take fundamental decisions. Their absence is their loss."

His comments reflect South Africa’s determination to ensure the summit succeeds despite the political drama.

The country’s High Commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal, echoed that sentiment, calling the G20 “too big to fail.” He stressed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence carries special significance.

“PM Modi is one of the world’s most influential leaders today,” Sooklal said, adding that his participation demonstrates India’s solidarity with South Africa and commitment to Global South priorities.

India’s steady hand amid global divisions

As the world’s geopolitical landscape becomes increasingly fragmented, India’s role at the summit stands out. New Delhi and Pretoria have worked closely throughout South Africa’s G20 presidency, pushing for debt relief, fair climate financing, and a stronger voice for developing nations in global institutions.

Their collaboration continues a pattern of cooperation that began when India hosted the G20 in 2023. That summit was widely praised for its success in a divided world and, most notably, for securing the African Union’s permanent membership in the G20. The move gave Africa a lasting seat at the global decision-making table and marked a defining achievement of India’s leadership.

This year’s summit, by contrast, reflects how fractured the global order has become. Apart from Trump’s boycott, Argentina’s President Javier Milei has also declined to attend, Vladimir Putin remains absent due to an ICC arrest warrant, and China is sending its premier instead of President Xi Jinping.

Why this summit still matters

Despite the absences, the G20 remains the world’s most powerful economic forum. Its 19 member countries and the European Union represent about 85 percent of global GDP, 75 percent of world trade, and two-thirds of the world’s population. The group’s decisions affect everything from climate finance and global taxation to supply chains and debt relief.

This year’s summit also carries symbolic weight. It is being held in Soweto, a township in Johannesburg synonymous with the struggle against apartheid. As President Ramaphosa stands on stage to hand over the G20 presidency, the scene will be striking: on one side, the leader of Africa’s most industrialised nation; on the other, an empty chair representing the world’s most powerful country.

A missed opportunity for the US

Trump’s absence is not just a diplomatic embarrassment. It is also a missed chance to engage meaningfully with Africa, whose economies are among the fastest growing in the world and whose minerals are critical for the global green transition.

This G20 could have been remembered for showcasing Africa’s potential and for deepening cooperation between continents. Instead, it will be remembered for a void, a visual metaphor for America’s retreat from multilateralism.

As Ramaphosa put it, “Their absence is their loss.”

And as India continues to show up and strengthen global institutions, it is clear which nations are investing in the future of multilateral leadership and which are walking away from it.