European leaders arrived in South Africa this week facing an uncomfortable reality: the United States, a founding pillar of the G20, is boycotting the summit for the first time in the forum’s 26-year history. The absence has cast a long shadow over a gathering meant to symbolise global cooperation and to elevate Africa’s role in shaping international policy.

A Summit Marked by Empty Seats

The G20 meeting in Johannesburg was expected to be a milestone — the first hosted on the African continent. Instead, it has become a visual representation of the strained state of global collaboration.

US President Donald Trump’s decision to skip the summit has effectively removed the world’s largest economy from the negotiating table. European officials, long wary of Trump’s scepticism toward multilateral institutions, say the boycott undermines the very purpose of the G20, which was created to foster cooperation on global economic stability.

The frustration is compounded by the fact that the US is due to host the summit next year, raising serious questions about the forum’s future.

Global Participation Falls Apart

The difficulties don’t end with Washington’s withdrawal. Leaders from several major G20 members — including Argentina, China, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey — also declined to attend, sending lower-ranking representatives instead.

This has limited opportunities for meaningful diplomacy, with officials conceding that joint positions on issues such as climate change, the war in Ukraine, and global financial reform are now nearly impossible.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who hoped the summit would highlight Africa’s growing global influence, has expressed disappointment but vowed to proceed with symbolic gestures. He plans to close the summit by addressing an empty chair — the seat reserved for the United States.

EU Leaders Attempt Damage Control

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa are in Johannesburg for high-level discussions with Ramaphosa. Europe hopes to reinforce ties with Africa at a moment when geopolitical fractures are rapidly widening.

But privately, EU diplomats admit the summit represents a low point for multilateral diplomacy. Recent G20 gatherings have already struggled to produce unified statements; with the US absent, officials say even minimal consensus is out of reach.

Europe’s AI Rules Still Worry Tech Leaders

On the sidelines of the summit, concerns about Europe’s technological competitiveness resurfaced after the EU unveiled a package aimed at simplifying digital regulations. The reforms include delaying implementation of key elements of the AI Act, the bloc’s most ambitious tech law to date.

Booking.com CEO Glenn Fogel cautioned that Europe’s regulatory uncertainty is holding back companies trying to scale up AI tools.

AI Rollouts Put on Hold

Fogel said that while AI could transform travel — including the creation of automated digital assistants capable of booking entire trips — the company has avoided launching its newest OpenAI-powered chatbot in Europe due to unclear compliance requirements.

“Uncertainty makes companies hesitate to bring new technologies into the EU market,” he said.

The EU argues that its rules are necessary to ensure transparency and fairness. But companies say the fragmented rollout and compliance burden create competitive disadvantages.

Booking.com is currently the only Europe-based “gatekeeper” under the EU’s Digital Markets Act — a designation that imposes stricter obligations. Major rivals such as Expedia are not classified the same way.

“We accept regulation,” Fogel said. “But everyone in the global market should play by the same rules.”

What’s Ahead

• EU foreign ministers meet today in Brussels.
• Von der Leyen, Costa, and Ramaphosa hold further talks in Johannesburg.