British Premier Keir Starmer has arrived Keir Starmer arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa, prior to the 2025 G20 summit (22-23 November) in which he emphasized the government’s intention to participate with the world’s top leaders despite his absence from the U.S. delegation led by Donald Trump. The Guardian+2Sky News+2

The Summit context and the notable absences
The summit, held by South Africa under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” is the first time that the G20 is taking place in the African continent. Wikipedia However this event is also subject to an unusual diplomatic situation which is that The United States has opted out from the summit, with the president of the United States, Donald Trump declaring that there are no U.S. government officials will attend the summit, citing what he claims to be human rights abuses committed on the white Afrikaners within South Africa. 2Reuters+Politico Chinese the President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin are also not attending in person. The Guardian+1

Starmer’s motivations and goals
Starmer was able to defend his trip in spite of the controversial timing–which comes just days before the tough UK budget, by stressing his importance to G20 connections to British jobs growth, investment and job creation. “If you want to deal with the cost of living and make people better off with good, secure jobs, investment from G20 partners and allies is really important,” Starmer said. The Guardian+1

Beyond economic concerns in the United States, Starmer also indicated his intent to make use of the summit to reiterate the British support for Ukraine and to participate in bilateral discussions regarding energy transition, industrial strategy and trade in general. The Guardian

The implications for U.S. absence U.S. absence
The decision of the U.S. to stay away creates a symbolic “empty chair” at the summit table, leaving a gap in the normally most influential of the grouping. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said that he was giving presidentship “to an empty chair.” Reuters

Starmer stated that the absence of Trump’s absence from the U.S. should not undermine the importance of the summit: “The G20 still matters. It’s a very important platform.” Sky News However, his presence also signals an adjustment in that, With Washington having been ostracized, at the very least along with other major players, smaller states could try to influence the agenda. For Britain this could be a chance to boost its international standing, but it is at risk of being seen as responding to U.S. engagement, instead of influencing the agenda.

Themes and potential results
The South African presidency has brought attention to issues that are usually not represented in G20 summits, including equity and development within the Global South, sustainable growth and multilateral cooperation. Wikipedia+1 With the U.S. absent, agreement on joint communiques may become more difficult–especially on issues like Russia-Ukraine war responses, global climate finance, debt relief and trade liberalisation. Starmer’s ability to negotiate these issues while defending UK interest will be scrutinized closely.

Conclusion
Keir Starmer’s arrival at Johannesburg is a sign of the UK’s dedication to multilateral cooperation in the midst of shifting international leadership dynamic. The lack of Donald Trump and a full U.S. delegation undeniably diminishes the weight of the summit however, the British premier seems intent on making the best of this moment by positioning the UK as a proactive partner that is focused on growth in the economy as well as climate change action, and global equity. The likelihood of this summit delivering tangible results in the wake of significant absences is uncertain, but the presence of Prime Minister Stephen Starmer will ensure that the UK is part of the discussion.