Foreign ministers from the G20 top economies met in South Africa amid tensions over the Ukraine war, trade disputes, and the absence of the United States. Geopolitical rifts since Russia's Ukraine invasion and changes in Washington's trade and foreign policies under President Donald Trump have made the G20 more fractious than ever. South Africa, as the host, called for action on climate change and debt sustainability for low-income countries. The United States did not attend due to ideological disputes with the agenda and disagreements over South Africa's efforts to address racial injustices and its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. China sees this as an opportunity to expand its influence.