The upcoming G20 summit, scheduled to take place in South Africa, is at risk of losing international relevance following the withdrawal of the leaders of the group’s three most influential powers: the United States, Russia and China. Donald Trump was the first to announce he would not attend; Vladimir Putin later confirmed he would send a representative instead, and now Xi Jinping has also canceled his participation.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Premier Li Qiang will lead the Chinese delegation in Johannesburg at the end of November. This marks the first time since the creation of the G20 that the presidents of its three most powerful nations will all be absent, raising concerns that the summit could become a largely symbolic event with minimal global influence.
Russia has appointed Maxim Oreshkin, deputy head of the presidential administration, as its representative, while the United States had planned to send Vice President JD Vance in Trump’s place. In recent days, however, Trump even threatened to boycott the summit entirely, accusing South Africa—without evidence—of killing white farmers and illegally seizing their land. These remarks added diplomatic tension to a gathering already weakened by the absence of key global leaders.
The reduced participation of major powers raises questions about the G20’s ability to address pressing global challenges, including economic stability, trade, energy transition and geopolitical tensions. The G20 is composed of 19 countries plus the European Union and the African Union, bringing together established democracies like the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom alongside authoritarian states such as Russia, China and Saudi Arabia.
Despite the complex context, several leaders have confirmed their attendance, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who plans to participate on November 22 and 23. Even so, the absence of the group’s three central figures reshapes the political weight of the summit and casts doubt on how effective its agreements can be when the main global players are not seated at the table.
