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By Warwick Powell
Lead: With Washington absent and Europe sidelined, the Johannesburg G20 signaled a decisive shift: The Global South is now redefining international governance on equal terms.
When the G20 summit convened days ago in Johannesburg — the first time it has ever been held on African soil — it was supposed to be a marquee showcase for global multilateralism. But the shadow cast by the absence of the United States, coupled with the muted presence of Europe, revealed a different story altogether: a new geopolitical glue binding together the Global South, and China's central role in that transformation.
A summit without Washington
President Trump's decision to boycott the summit, citing alleged persecution of Afrikaner farmers in South Africa, was not only a diplomatic snub but also a self-inflicted wound. By refusing to send senior representation, he deliberately withdrew American influence from discussions he deemed objectionable. But in doing so, he ceded the moral high ground and left open spaces for conversations free of the shadow of American hegemonic ambitions. The South African leadership responded by shepherding the G20 into adopting a 122-point Leaders' Declaration on the very first day, a departure from tradition and a clear signal that the rest of the world would not wait for Washington's permission.
The document outlined a sweeping agenda encompassing debt sustainability, just energy transitions, climate resilience, critical minerals and reforms to the global financial architecture. In choosing to issue the declaration, South Africa and its partners made a statement: Multilateralism cannot be held hostage by a single absent power. The Global South, along with others, is focused on moving forward, with or without the U.S.
The Global South takes the lead
The G20 provided a platform for the voices of the Global South to be amplified. Under the banner of "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability," the summit spotlighted the concerns of developing nations not as afterthoughts, but as core priorities.
Central to that shift is the role of the African Union (AU). The AU has been a permanent member of the G20 since 2023, now on equal footing with the European Union. Over the past year, the AU has pushed a coherent three-year agenda through its G20 Sherpa channels — demanding debt architecture reform, more equitable tax systems and greater climate finance, among other key issues. During the summit, it organized a high-level dialogue specifically on debt sustainability and systemic financing reform.
That kind of institutional engagement is powerful. It means that Africa isn't just asking to be heard; instead, it is helping to shape the rules of global economic governance. The AU's membership and role are transforming what the G20 means for the world. The G20 is not merely a club of great powers, but a forum where the priorities of the Global South can set the agenda.
China: The strategic ballast
Amid these dynamics, China acted as a bridge, an enabler and a stabilizer for the emerging grouping of developing countries. At the summit's opening, Chinese Premier Li Qiang reiterated China's support for South Africa's agenda, championing a vision of an open global economy, multilateral cooperation and equity in development. These are precisely the themes that Global South nations push hardest.
On the sidelines, Li met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, a meeting that drew headlines not for grand strategic bargains, but for pragmatic cooperation. The two pledged to deepen collaboration in new energy, intelligent manufacturing, biomedicine, hydrogen energy technology and intelligent driving. Li's message was clear — Beijing wants economic ties grounded in shared interests, not political interference or moral posturing.
China's role at the summit was strategic. It wasn't simply pushing its own agenda; rather, it served as the ballast anchoring the Global South that increasingly operates on equal terms. It acted as a "great enabling power." By backing South Africa's presidency, China reinforced its vision of a multipolar world, one rooted in development rather than dominance.
Europe: Sidelined and struggling for relevance
Meanwhile, European powers looked on. Chancellor Merz's conversation with Li may have made headlines, but what was missing was a broader European voice on the core issues of this summit. Rather than driving the discussion on debt reform, climate finance or critical minerals — areas deeply tied to Africa's future — European leaders played a supporting, rather than leading, role.
That marginalization is telling. The G20 has long been dominated by Western economic and political power. But as we've seen in Johannesburg, Europe is no longer the unquestioned anchor. Its priorities — security in Ukraine, traditional geopolitics — felt out of step with the urgency of development, sustainability and southern solidarity.
What it all means
Johannesburg may well mark the beginning of a new chapter for the G20 — one that is focused increasingly on promoting and facilitating international alignments and coordination on issues that matter to the whole world instead of the West only. The Global South is no longer just a chorus member at the global governance table; it is making concrete contribution to the dialogue. And China is playing a constructive role: not just as a powerful player, but as a catalyst.
This realignment has practical implications. Countries burdened by debt now have a louder voice demanding reform. Fossil fuel-dependent economies are pushing for fairer financing to support their energy transitions. African nations are advocating for increased domestic processing of their minerals, rather than relying solely on extract-and-export models.
If this momentum holds, we may be witnessing a redefinition of global multilateralism — not Europe- or America-led, but shaped by joint effort of all stakeholders, anchored in development equity and underpinned by a new kind of strategic partnership and mutual benefit.
A call to action
For Western powers, the message should be clear: You cannot sideline this movement and still expect to shape its outcomes. If Europe wants to remain relevant in global governance, it must align with these emerging priorities — not by pushing its old agenda, but by being a genuine partner in building a more equitable system.
For the Global South, the Johannesburg summit should be a moment of renewed optimism. The AU's voice is no longer merely symbolic. Despite heightened geopolitical tensions, the declaration adopted reflects shared commitments and reinforces a roadmap for economic sovereignty, financial reform and sustainable development.
For the U.S., which will have its turn to host the G20 summit next year, it can choose to contribute to global solidarity by giving adequate attention to priorities and concerns of the Global South. That would mean rejecting impulses to ignore the consensus reached at the Johannesburg summit. The U.S. indication that South Africa will not be receiving an invitation to the 2026 G20 is no good omen.
However, the world is changing. The foundational logic is being reforged — not in military alliances or ideological blocs, but in shared development goals and collective governance. All countries, big or small, rich or poor, should proceed from this new normal to maintain their relevance and achieve their progress and prosperity.
Warwick Powell is an adjunct professor at Queensland University of Technology.
