The G20 Summit in South Africa turned into one of the most visible examples of multilateralism vs unilateralism in recent years. While Donald Trump attempted to influence outcomes without attending, the summit demonstrated that the world’s leading economies could move forward without him—resulting in a clear geopolitical setback for the former US president.

A Joint Declaration Adopted Without Trump’s Influence

Under the leadership of Cyril Ramaphosa, the summit made an unprecedented move: adopting the joint declaration on the first day.
Traditionally a closing-day formality, this strategic decision ensured momentum and unity—even as the US and Argentina tried to derail it.

The declaration featured priorities that Trump has historically rejected:

• Energy transition
• Climate action
• Gender equality

Despite pressure and diplomatic resistance from Trump’s camp, South Africa held firm, sending a powerful message that multilateralism can deliver global outcomes without Washington’s approval.
This was the first Donald Trump setback: the G20 signaled that cooperation matters more than one leader’s absence.

IBSA Revival: India, Brazil, South Africa Push Back

On the sidelines, a major development reshaped Global South geopolitics: the IBSA revival. The leaders of India, Brazil, and South Africa revived their trilateral forum after more than a decade. This was not a symbolic gesture—it was a strategic response to global trade policies and tariff wars that pushed emerging economies closer together.

The IBSA grouping offers three advantages:

• Speed and flexibility in decision-making
• Alternative cooperation frameworks outside Western influence
• A counterweight to unilateral economic pressure

With both Donald Trump and Xi Jinping absent, IBSA used the moment to accelerate an agenda built on development, dialogue, and shared priorities.

The message was direct: multilateral coalitions are forming with or without the US.

The G20 Gavel Snub: Symbolic but Damaging

The summit ended with an unusual and telling moment: the G20 gavel handover.
Traditionally, the host leader hands over the gavel to the next G20 president. Since Trump skipped the summit, Washington proposed sending a junior diplomat to accept it.

Cyril Ramaphosa refused.
South Africa rejected the downgrade, insisting the US must respect protocol or collect it through diplomatic channels. The refusal was a public diplomatic rebuke and a visible geopolitical isolation of Trump’s unilateral approach.

This G20 gavel snub became the third clear setback—symbolically marking the end of the summit and Trump’s diminishing leverage on the global stage.

Multilateralism vs Unilateralism: The G20’s Unified Message

Throughout the G20 Summit South Africa, the group’s actions spoke louder than any speech.
Trump pushed unilateralism, but the G20 responded with unity, cooperation, and continuity.
The summit proved it could deliver outcomes—joint declaration, IBSA revival, and a strong host stance—without US dominance.

For many international stakeholders, it was evidence that:

The era of one leader dictating outcomes is fading.
Multilateral frameworks are reinventing themselves.

Looking Toward the Next Summit

As the United States prepares to host the next G20, Donald Trump faces a diplomatic test. The summit will take place on home soil, but the rules of engagement have changed.
If Trump continues to resist multilateralism, he risks pushing the US further into geopolitical isolation.

The world has shown its preference:
dialogue over disruption, cooperation over coercion, and shared vision over unilateral demands.