Argentina’s President Javier Milei will not attend the upcoming G20 leaders’ summit in Johannesburg later this month, opting instead to send representatives in his place. The move comes as Argentina aligns itself with a boycott of the summit led by United States President Donald Trump.
According to Argentine media reports, Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno and G20 negotiator Federico Pinedo will represent the country at the meeting, which takes place on 22–23 November.
While Argentina’s government has yet to release an official statement, sources close to the presidency indicated that the decision mirrors Washington’s stance.
President Trump announced earlier this month that the United States would not participate in the summit, alleging human rights abuses against Afrikaner farmers in South Africa.
Milei’s withdrawal is seen as a diplomatic blow to South Africa, which is hosting the G20 for the first time, and for the first time on African soil. The move also signals Argentina’s growing alignment with US foreign policy and a shift away from its traditional commitment to multilateral forums.
Argentina is one of three Latin American members of the G20, alongside Brazil and Mexico, and has historically participated at the highest level of the global economic forum. Analysts in Buenos Aires say Milei’s absence underscores his administration’s prioritisation of bilateral ties with Washington over broader international cooperation.
The boycott has drawn criticism globally, with South Africa’s government dismissing Trump’s claims as false and politically motivated. Pretoria maintains that there is no evidence of systematic violence targeting white farmers.
The G20 Summit is expected to centre on global economic recovery, reforms to international financial institutions, and the energy transition. World leaders including China’s Xi Jinping, India’s Narendra Modi, and Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva have confirmed their attendance.
South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has not yet commented on Argentina’s decision to skip the event.
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