US
1Min
South Africa
Nov 25, 2025
South Africa has officially handed over the G20 presidency to the U.S. at a modest event at DIRCO headquarters in Pretoria. The exchange comes after diplomatic tension over the absence of US leadership at the Johannesburg summit and disagreements over protocol.
South Africa has officially handed over the G20 presidency to the United States in a quiet ceremony held at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in Pretoria. The event, intentionally low-key, marks the end of a diplomatically tense year between the two countries, shaped by disagreements over protocol and the United States’ absence from the Johannesburg summit.
The handover had been delayed after South Africa refused to transfer the presidency on the summit floor to a lower-ranking US chargé d’affaires, insisting that the transition should honour diplomatic norms and the stature of the G20. After days of negotiation, both countries agreed to a modest handover at DIRCO headquarters rather than a public ceremony with the usual fanfare.
During the proceedings, Minister Ronald Lamola emphasised that South Africa’s stance was never about hostility but about respect for international procedure. He also highlighted that the Johannesburg summit had been an important platform for amplifying issues facing the Global South, including development financing, energy transitions, and food security. Despite the subdued tone, the presidency transfer symbolised a mutual effort to stabilise relations and move forward.
The United States is now set to lead the G20 for the coming year, with expectations that it will address global economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and the challenges of rebuilding trust within multilateral institutions. South Africa, meanwhile, leaves its tenure asserting that it upheld the dignity of the African continent and ensured its priorities remained central to global discourse.
