G20 members adopt declaration amid boycott by US

Leaders at the G20 Summit in Johannesburg on Saturday adopted a joint declaration condemning terrorism in all forms and endorsing stronger FATF-style mechanisms to curb terror financing.

Notably, the US boycotted the negotiations and did not participate in drafting the text. South Africa, which held the presidency, pushed the document through despite Washington’s objections.

“We cannot bend rules for one country. We must respect those who were part of the process and worked tirelessly to ensure this G20 succeeds, including the adoption of the declaration. We have to move forward. We cannot be held back by one country,” a spokesperson for President Cyril Ramaphosa said.

The declaration issued on Day 1 “condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations” and reaffirmed support for the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and its regional affiliates.

It called for strengthening global systems to combat money laundering, terror financing and proliferation networks, while intensifying efforts to prevent the misuse of legal entities, increase asset recovery, enhance cooperation and promote transparency in payments and virtual assets.

It also backed FATF’s ongoing work on emerging risks from decentralised finance, stablecoins and peer-to-peer transfers -- sectors increasingly exploited by illicit networks.

Leaders noted that the summit convened amid “rising geopolitical instability, deepening inequality and expanding conflict zones.” Expressing distress at civilian suffering, they reaffirmed commitment to international law, including the UN Charter and humanitarian law, and condemned attacks on civilians and infrastructure.

The document stressed that states must refrain from the threat or use of force to alter territorial boundaries and emphasised respect for sovereignty, political independence and fundamental freedoms.

In one of its strongest political statements, the G20 called for “transformative reform” of the UN Security Council to reflect 21st-century realities and to give greater representation to underrepresented regions, including Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean. It demanded a more democratic, accountable and transparent Security Council that distributes responsibility more equitably across members.

With the African Union participating as a full member in its second year, the declaration said the continent’s voice “must continue to be amplified” across multilateral platforms. Meeting on African soil for the first time, leaders described the moment as historic and underscored solidarity with developing nations.

The G20 endorsed South Africa’s Voluntary Energy Security Toolkit, aimed at helping countries enhance resilience through innovation, emergency preparedness, interconnectivity and workforce development.

A significant outcome was the adoption of the G20 Critical Minerals Framework, a voluntary, non-binding roadmap to build transparent, sustainable and resilient mineral value chains. It emphasises exploration, diversification, value addition, local beneficiation, governance reforms and community participation, while safeguarding the sovereign rights of mineral-rich nations.

The declaration reaffirmed the G20’s role as the premier forum for global economic cooperation, committed to consensus-based functioning and equal participation of all members.

Leaders thanked South Africa for its presidency and confirmed that the G20 would convene under US leadership in 2026, the UK in 2027 and South Korea in 2028, while welcoming Saudi Arabia’s intention to host in the upcoming cycle.