US Warns G20 Against Declaration Because It Can't Bully, Er, Attend
According to the Associated Press, South Africa's president, Cyril Ramaphosa, confirmed the G20 summit would issue a joint declaration, pointedly stating the nation "will not be bullied" by U.S. pressure. The Trump administration is boycotting the summit, citing spurious claims of South Africa violently persecuting a white minority, yet still dispatched diplomatic communication demanding "no
declaration adopted" because, one assumes, consensus is only possible when Washington is present to enforce its will. This isn't just about a G20 statement; it's a playbook. The 'rules-based international order' often means 'rules based on our say-so.' When consensus isn't on the table, it's kicked off the earth. One might wonder how many global declarations the U.S. has unilaterally disavowed or
undermined when it couldn't control the narrative. The sheer audacity of boycotting a summit then demanding it yield no outcome, simply because U.S. representatives aren't there to sign off on it, speaks volumes about its respect for sovereign nations.