President Lula Arrives in South Africa for Historic G20 Summit Focused on Global South Priorities

Historic G20 Summit Kicks Off in Johannesburg

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Friday, November 21, 2025, to participate in the G20 Leaders' Summit. This marks a significant moment as it is the first time a G20 summit is being held on the African continent. The summit, scheduled for November 22-23, 2025, brings together leaders from the world's major economies to address pressing global challenges.

South Africa assumed the G20 Presidency from December 1, 2024, to November 30, 2025, and has set the overarching theme for its tenure as 'Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability'.

Key Agenda Items and South Africa's Priorities

The host nation, South Africa, has outlined a comprehensive agenda for the summit, prioritizing issues critical to developing economies and the Global South. Discussions are set to cover a range of topics, including:

• Strengthening resilience and disaster response capacity
• Ensuring the sustainability of public debt in low-income countries
• Financing a just energy transition
• Promoting the role of critical minerals as drivers of development and economic growth
• Sustainable economic growth, trade, and public debt
• Climate change, disaster risk reduction, and food security
• Decent work and artificial intelligence

South Africa's presidency aims to advocate for and mobilize support for developing economies, building on the efforts of previous presidencies from the Global South, including Indonesia, India, and Brazil.

Brazil's Role and President Lula's Objectives

As Brazil held the G20 presidency in 2024, it plays a prominent role in the current summit, forming part of the 'troika' alongside South Africa and the United States. President Lula da Silva is expected to actively engage in discussions, particularly to campaign for his fossil fuel transition roadmap. He has also held bilateral meetings, discussing strategies to resume the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum meetings and Brazil's upcoming presidency of BRICS. Ahead of the summit, President Lula praised South Africa's G20 presidency.

Summit Dynamics and International Reactions

The summit has seen some notable international dynamics, including a boycott by the United States. The Trump administration cited a diplomatic rift with South Africa, stemming from claims of persecution of the white Afrikaner minority and opposition to South Africa's chosen agenda. Despite the U.S. absence, a leaders' declaration was unanimously adopted by the other members at the outset of the talks, urging increased global action on issues impacting poor countries. This declaration, a 122-point document, was promoted by South Africa as a victory for the first G20 summit held in Africa.