G20 declaration in defiance of US marks rare victory for multilateralism

WASHINGTON, Nov 24: Born of crisis but torn by years of tensions among its members, the Group of 20 major economies scored a rare victory this weekend for multilateralism after overcoming the boycott and objections of its most powerful member, the United States.

South Africa, this year's G20 president, rallied all but two member nations - the US and Argentina - to issue a declaration, ignoring Washington's warnings and quelling questions about the G20's future - at least for now.

Many doubted Pretoria would secure a declaration, much less tackle issues such as helping poor nations cope with climate change and external debt.

That success strengthened a body which for years was struggling to reach meaningful agreements - and highlighted the power of multilateralism when it seemed in retreat, researchers and delegates said.

The outcome infuriated the United States, next year's G20 host. The White House accused South Africa of weaponizing its presidency to undermine the G20's founding principles on unanimous consensus. It said US President Donald Trump would restore its "legitimacy" while hosting next year.

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The White House had no immediate comment when asked if it planned to disinvite South Africa from next year's G20 events.
The declaration's final paragraph was carefully worded to commit to meeting in future G20 summits in Britain and South Korea, but only to "working together" under the US presidency, a South African delegate said.

President Cyril Ramaphosa declined an American offer to hand over the rotating G20 presidency to a junior diplomat. That ceremony will now take place between equivalent diplomats this week.

The summit had seemed hopelessly overshadowed by Trump's boycott over false allegations that South Africa's Black majority government mistreats its white minority.

A South African delegate at the summit, who declined to be named because they were not authorised to speak, said Friday's agreement on a draft caused a visible ripple of relief among negotiators.    �"REUTERS