Argentina has formally objected to the G20 Leaders’ Declaration at the Johannesburg Summit, becoming only the second country – alongside the United States – to withhold support before the document’s final adoption on Sunday.
Speaking at the opening plenary session at the Nasrec Expo Centre on Saturday, Argentine Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno told delegates that Buenos Aires could not back the text due to unresolved differences on several geopolitical issues, particularly the conflict in the Middle East and Gaza.
“The declaration document has not achieved consensus on a few issues, including certain geopolitical matters like the conflict in the Middle East and Gaza,” Quirno said.
He referenced the UN Security Council resolution adopted on 17 November, which called for an immediate ceasefire, unrestricted humanitarian access and a comprehensive peace process, adding: “In this regard, I wish to recall the recent adoption of UN Security Council resolution… which emphasises the international community’s support for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.”
Despite the objections, Quirno stressed that Argentina “remains fully committed to the spirit of cooperation that has defined the G20 since its inception” and welcomed the summit’s focus on African development.
The move aligns President Javier Milei’s government closely with Washington. The United States, which fully boycotted the Johannesburg gathering, had already signalled its refusal to endorse a declaration containing references to gender equality, the Sustainable Development Goals and strong climate commitments.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, chairing the summit, announced on Saturday that the Leaders’ Declaration had been adopted by “overwhelming consensus” among participating members – a departure from the G20’s traditional requirement of unanimity.
The early adoption, on the first day of the two-day summit rather than at its close, is being seen as a bid to prevent the meeting from ending with only a watered-down chair’s summary.
Argentina and the US are the only two G20 members to voice formal objections. Several other leaders, including those of China, Russia and Mexico, sent lower-level representatives but did not block the text.
The Johannesburg Summit, the first ever held on African soil, has been dominated by South Africa’s priorities of debt relief, green industrialisation and reform of the global financial architecture. The final declaration is expected to be published after the closing session on Sunday.
