Argentine President Javier Milei has confirmed he will not attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, on November 22–23, 2025, opting instead to send Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno and G20 sherpa Federico Pinedo as representatives. The decision, announced by Milei’s spokesperson on November 12, directly follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s boycott of the event, announced on November 7 via Truth Social, over debunked claims of “white genocide” and land seizures targeting Afrikaner farmers in South Africa.
Milei’s move underscores his administration’s deepening alignment with Trump, whom he has met multiple times since his own inauguration in December 2023, including a recent visit to Mar-a-Lago in early November 2025. Argentine officials described the absence as “in line with Washington’s position,” though Buenos Aires has not explicitly cited human rights concerns. Analysts view it as a deliberate diplomatic signal, prioritizing bilateral U.S. ties over traditional multilateral forums like the G20, where Argentina has historically participated at the highest levels.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, responding to the U.S. boycott on November 12, dismissed such absences as ineffective, stating they “never achieve anything of great impact” and that decisions on key issues like debt relief would proceed. On X, reactions were mixed: South Africans joked about Milei’s domestic woes (“He’s battling 400,000% inflation”), while supporters praised the alignment (“Wise man. Good leader. Steer his country towards prosperity”). Confirmed attendees include Xi, Modi, and Lula, ensuring strong Global South representation.