Johannesburg, South Africa – In a powerful address at the opening session of the 2025 G20 Leaders’ Summit, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud called for stronger international coordination and a balanced, cross-sectoral approach to tackle rising global challenges and secure prosperity and stability for all nations. The summit, the first G20 leaders’ gathering ever held on African soil, officially opened on November 22, 2025, at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg, bringing together leaders from 19 countries plus the European Union and the African Union for two days of high-level talks.
“Today, the world faces increasing levels of inequality and global economic turmoil that has left deep imprints on the lives of millions and led to an increase in regional and international tensions,” Prince Faisal told the plenary. Speaking on behalf of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who sent greetings to all participants, he stressed that these interconnected crises “require continuous coordination and an integrated approach that balances economic development, environmental protection, and financial stability.”
“Despite the challenges of the global economy, the Kingdom is continuing to work to build a sustainable global economy through its effective international partnerships,” the minister added, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s proactive role on the world stage.
He underlined the unique responsibility of G20 member states in leading efforts to align global economic policies, promote balanced growth, encourage sustainable investment, and craft industrial and economic strategies that deliver stability and prosperity for everyone—especially the most vulnerable nations facing the fallout from financial and economic shocks.
The Johannesburg summit is being held under South Africa’s 2025 presidency, which began in December 2024, under the banner “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability.” It places special emphasis on the priorities of the Global South just five years before the 2030 deadline for the UN Sustainable Development Goals. President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his welcome address, called for renewed multilateralism to address persistent threats to economic stability, energy security, food supplies, and ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Middle East.
In an unusual move, the summit adopted a leaders’ declaration on the very first day—despite the absence of the United States, which boycotted the gathering. The declaration commits members to advance peace initiatives in conflict zones and ease debt burdens on poorer countries.
The U.S. decision to skip the summit, directed by President Donald Trump, has dominated headlines. Washington criticized the agenda as overly focused on climate issues and “diversity, equity, and inclusion” initiatives, calling it “anti-American.” French President Emmanuel Macron, who attended with a full delegation, expressed disappointment but urged participants to press ahead: “Our duty is to be present, engage, and work together because we have so many challenges.”
More than 40 countries and international organizations confirmed their presence, including the UAE, Qatar, Brazil (which will assume the G20 presidency in 2026), and high-level representatives standing in for leaders such as China’s Xi Jinping (represented by Premier Li Qiang).
Prince Faisal’s speech dovetailed perfectly with the summit’s core themes and reinforced Saudi Arabia’s image as a constructive global player. He pointed to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 reforms as proof that rapid diversification and sustainability are achievable even for major energy exporters. Non-oil sectors now account for over 56% of Saudi Arabia’s roughly $1.3 trillion GDP, and the IMF projects 4.6% overall growth in 2025, with non-oil activities expanding at 4.8%. Mega-projects such as NEOM, the Red Sea tourism corridor, and a massive renewable-energy push have created hundreds of thousands of jobs, drawn hundreds of multinational headquarters to Riyadh, and raised female workforce participation to 34%.
On the sidelines, Prince Faisal held a series of bilateral meetings, including with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on trade and security cooperation, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on energy ties, and Argentine officials on potential sectoral partnerships. Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Aljadaan and the Kingdom’s G20 Sherpa, Abdulmuhsen Alkhalaf, also engaged actively in technical discussions.
As the summit continues into its final day on November 23, key topics under negotiation include debt relief for low-income countries, climate-finance commitments, reform of the World Trade Organization, and measures to curb illicit financial flows. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met President Ramaphosa ahead of the plenary to push for greater cooperation on sustainable development funding.
The Johannesburg declaration—adopted by all members except the United States—reaffirms the G20’s alignment with the UN’s 2030 Agenda and calls for equitable resource flows that could double output in many low-income nations through modest transfers from wealthier economies.
Against a backdrop of deepening global inequality, falling trust in institutions, and rising geopolitical friction, Saudi Arabia’s message of balanced, coordinated action resonated strongly. Prince Faisal closed his remarks on an optimistic yet urgent note: the G20 must shield the world’s most vulnerable countries from the cascading effects of financial and economic crises and build a future where prosperity is genuinely shared.
When the gavel passes to the United States for the 2026 presidency in December, the Johannesburg outcomes will serve as both a benchmark and a challenge—proof that, even in an era of boycotts and divisions, multilateral solidarity can still produce results.
