Foreign ministers from the world's 20 largest economies gathered in South Africa on Thursday, confronting mounting tensions over the Ukraine war, trade disputes, and the notable absence of the top U.S. diplomat due to a diplomatic standoff with the host nation.

The G20, which accounts for roughly 85% of global GDP and three-quarters of international trade, has long grappled with internal differences. However, since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, geopolitical fractures have widened significantly. These divisions have only deepened in the past month, following President Donald Trump's inauguration and his swift overhaul of U.S. trade and foreign policies.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who holds the rotating G20 presidency, opened the meeting with a stark warning about the state of global affairs. "Geopolitical tensions, growing intolerance, and escalating conflicts threaten an already fragile global coexistence," he said, setting the tone for discussions that will conclude on Friday.

For South Africa, this first-ever G20 summit on the African continent presents a crucial opportunity to push wealthier nations to address the concerns of poorer countries—including widening inequality, slow climate action, and a global financial system that favors powerful institutions over struggling economies. "Those most responsible for climate change have a duty and responsibility to support those least responsible," Ramaphosa urged, while also advocating for "debt sustainability for low-income nations."

The U.S. chose not to attend, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio rejecting the meeting’s previously agreed-upon focus on "diversity, equity, and inclusion" as a "very bad" agenda. Tensions further escalated when Trump abruptly cut U.S. aid to South Africa over ideological differences regarding land reform and its legal challenge against U.S. ally Israel at the International Court of Justice.

Meanwhile, Trump has also overturned Washington's previous policy of staunch support for Ukraine, seeking instead to negotiate a rapid peace deal with Russia. He has placed blame for the war on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and distanced NATO allies from efforts to diplomatically isolate Moscow. Ramaphosa, who has resisted pressure to sever ties with Russia, reiterated the importance of diplomacy, stating, "As the G20, we must continue to advocate for peaceful solutions to conflicts."

The U.S. absence presents an opening for China, the world's second-largest economy, to strengthen its influence. While Beijing has traditionally focused its diplomatic efforts on the Global South, it has been quick to take advantage of cracks in the transatlantic alliance. The Chinese foreign ministry emphasized on Monday that "healthy and stable" relations between China and the European Union are now more critical than ever.