Can the World Move On Without the U.S.? G20 Leaders Gave It a Shot

Background

When President Donald Trump announced that the United States would boycott the G20 summit, the diplomatic landscape shifted dramatically. For the first time in decades, the host nation found itself navigating a high‑level meeting without the world’s largest economy at the table.

New Alliances Emerging

In the absence of the U.S., European, Asian, and Latin American leaders seized the opportunity to forge fresh partnerships. France and Germany led a push for a comprehensive climate accord, while Japan and India negotiated a joint framework on digital trade. Meanwhile, Brazil and South Africa worked on a new agricultural cooperation pact aimed at stabilising global food markets.

Tough Talk for Trump

Several heads of state adopted a more confrontational tone toward President Trump’s policies. The British prime minister warned that “the world cannot afford to be sidelined by isolationist rhetoric,” and the Canadian premier echoed the sentiment, calling the boycott “a reckless gamble that jeopardises collective security.” These remarks underscored a growing frustration among allies who view U.S. disengagement as a threat to multilateral cooperation.

Looking Ahead

While the summit concluded without American participation, the momentum generated by the G20’s new initiatives suggests that the international community may be capable of advancing key agendas—climate action, trade liberalisation, and pandemic preparedness—independently of Washington. Whether this signals a lasting shift or a temporary workaround remains to be seen, but the meeting demonstrated that the world can, at least for a moment, move forward without the United States.