At the 81st UNGA in New York, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated, unreservedly, Russia’s objection to South Africa’s exclusion from the G20 summit while promoting the significance of the basic principles of sustainable transformation of global multilateral institutions and organizations and the integration of economic development and Africa’s political and cultural identity on the world stage in the 21st century.
Lavrov described, explicitly, in some details how African leaders view, particularly, the current stage of relations with the United States. There are many contradictory elements involved in dealing with Africa, their totality, and interconnections as a path to strengthening the multilateral foundations of the modern world and countering neocolonial practices—issues to which countries of the Global South and East are currently paying increasing attention.
The upcoming 2026 summit is planned in Miami, Florida, United States, on December 14-15. The United States extended an invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin, drawing mixed reactions and debates regarding diplomatic engagement versus political isolation. As for the invitation to the G20 summit, the very concept of “we are inviting you to come and talk to us” does not apply here. The twenty states that make up the G20 are equal members of the group. The United States holding the presidency selects and sets the date and sends out invitations.
However, it is not a case of someone saying, “I am inviting you to the G20 summit.” The invitation simply states, “Dear Mr. President, you are a member of the G20. We are holding a meeting on such-and-such a date this year.” That is all there is to it. That is precisely how we view it. Incidentally, in my contacts with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, I pointed out that it is improper to claim the United States would not invite South Africa to the summit—or that they would invite Poland instead of South Africa. That would be a unpardonable violation of the presidency’s functions and mandate. On what grounds?
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The G20 can only be expanded by consensus. There has been no discussion whatsoever about excluding South Africa and admitting Poland in its place. In this instance, therefore, our American “friends” have somewhat overstepped their authority, emphasized Lavrov, and then further added, “I have just spoken at length on our assessment of the current status of Russia’s relations with the United States. There are many contradictory aspects to the entire relationship.”
Notwithstanding the diplomacy’s complexities, Russia’s simple position has centered on South Africa’s representation at the G20. Russia and South Africa are BRICS members and hold common views over the new emerging multilateral order. Securing this G20 summit representation would essentially show South Africa’s global diplomatic influence and further give Africa a continuous voice in the international platform’s decisions and grant South Africa the power to consolidate its position as an African power.
Under the leadership of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, the remaining 19 member nations successfully adopted a 122-paragraph joint declaration focusing on solidarity, equality, sustainability, climate action, and debt restructuring. That summit, in practical terms, faced diplomatic friction as the United States—under the administration of President Donald Trump—boycotted the event over policy disagreements regarding climate action, global inequality, initiatives, and bilateral tensions.
The G20 brings together major advanced and emerging economies to coordinate global policy on trade, investment, and financial stability. Primarily the members represent 85% of the gross world product, 75% of international trade, and two-thirds of the global population. The group has no permanent secretariat; the presidency rotates annually among member nations.
Despite the empty US seat, the summit proceeded and concluded its agenda successfully. In its historical background, South Africa hosted the G20 Johannesburg Summit from November 22-23, 2025, marking the first time the G20 Leaders Summit was held on the African continent. It served as a platform for drawing on significant issues with emphasis on developments in the Global South. The G20 (Group of Twenty) is an international economic forum consisting of 19 individual member countries, the European Union, and the African Union.
