South African President Cyril Ramaphosa pressed ahead with a G20 leaders’ declaration addressing climate change, renewable energy, and global debt burdens, despite strong objections and the absence of the United States, Reuters reported.

The declaration, drafted without U.S. involvement, “cannot be renegotiated,” Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya told reporters, highlighting the intensive negotiations leading up to its adoption. Hours later, the White House accused Pretoria of “weaponizing” its G20 leadership after initially suggesting the presidency gavel be passed to an empty chair.

Argentina also abstained at the last moment, citing concerns over language addressing the Middle East conflict, though its foreign minister, Pablo Quirno, affirmed commitment to the G20’s cooperative framework.

The document’s references to climate change and renewable energy adoption underscored divisions with the Trump administration, which has long questioned human-driven global warming. It also drew attention to the debt burdens facing developing economies.

South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola defended the summit outcome, stating that all attending members had agreed on the path forward. Ramaphosa framed the adoption as a milestone for Africa’s first G20 presidency, while EU and Chinese officials called for unity and caution over dependencies in global trade and energy.

South Africa declined a U.S. proposal to allow a junior diplomat to receive the G20 presidency handover, instead assigning an official of equivalent rank, citing protocol considerations.