Argentina only attendee to reject G20 declaration, citing Palestine, geopolitics

Argentina has refused to back the G20 South Africa summit’s joint declaration, citing disagreement with the statement’s approach to the Palestine conflict and “geopolitical differences.” It is the only country present to reject it, although the United States boycotted the summit entirely. President Javier Milei had already snubbed the summit, choosing to not personally attend and sending Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno instead as the chief Argentine representative at the meeting. President Donald Trump’s government has been at diplomatic loggerheads with South Africa, which has favored ties with other Global South nations, and the countries’ leaders have taken sharply differing stances on issues such as Israel’s actions in Gaza. Trump has also claimed that white South Africans are being persecuted and killed.  Argentina’s decision to eschew the declaration comes as Milei’s administration works closely with Washington after receiving a major financial support line. Milei is also a staunch ally of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.  The G20 leaders’ declaration was issued at the summit, which is taking place in Johannesburg on Saturday and Sunday. Unlike at previous summits, it was released at the start of the event, rather than the end.  Argentina’s foreign ministry said its decision to reject the declaration was based on “the breakdown of the consensus rules governing the operation of the G20, as well as to substantive differences in the geopolitical considerations contained in the text,” describing consensus as “essential.” The ministry added that “with regard to the conflict in the Middle East, Argentina differs from the partial approach reflected in the document, which omits the regional context and the underlying structural causes of the conflict,” elements it said were necessary for peace. While the ministry’s statement did not mention Palestine specifically, the reference to the territory is the only section of the declaration that discusses the Middle East. Point seven of the declaration vows that members “will work for a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Ukraine, as well as ending other conflicts and wars around the globe.” The joint declaration runs to 122 points and 30 pages, covering topics including climate change and the energy transition, gender equality, debt sustainability, reduced inequality, and global support for Africa.  Argentina’s allegiance to the US in the spotlight News agencies reported that Milei took the decision to not attend the summit in solidarity with his ally, Trump. Milei has been skeptical of international forums such as the G20 and the United Nations: since he took office, Argentina has bucked the world trend on a number of major votes at multilateral forums — many involving issues such as gender, climate change, and the conflict in Palestine.  In September 2024, Argentina refused to support the United Nations Pact for the Future. During a speech before the international body, Milei said: “the woke agenda’s collectivism and moral posturing have collided with reality and no longer have credible solutions to offer to the world’s real problems.” The following month, Argentina became the only G20 member that refused to sign a statement on gender equality and women’s empowerment. At the UN General Assembly in New York this September, Argentina was one of just 10 countries to vote against a two-state solution in Israel and Palestine.