Leaders adopt a declaration at the start of South Africa's G20 summit despite US opposition

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — World leaders from the Group of 20 rich and developing economies broke with tradition and adopted a declaration at the start of their summit in South Africa on Saturday despite opposition from the United States, which is boycotting the two-day talks in a diplomatic rift with the host country.

Vincent Magwenya, the spokesperson for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, said a leaders' declaration was adopted unanimously by the other members at the start of the talks in Johannesburg. Declarations are usually adopted at the end of G20 summits.

The 122-point declaration urged more global action on issues that specifically affect poor countries, like climate-related disasters and sovereign debt levels, and was promoted by the host country as a victory for the first G20 summit to be held in Africa.

The summit has been overshadowed by the U.S. boycott ordered by President Donald Trump and the U.S. had put pressure on South Africa not to adopt a leaders' declaration in the absence of an American delegation, South African officials said.

South Africa's summit had an ambitious agenda to make progress on solving some of the long-standing problems that have afflicted the developing world, and leaders and top government officials came together at an exhibition center near the township of Soweto, which was once home to Nelson Mandela.

Many of South Africa's priorities, especially a focus on climate change and confronting global inequality, met resistance from the U.S. But as he opened the summit, Ramaphosa said that “consensus has emerged."

Then, in comments to leaders that were apparently mistakenly broadcast during what was meant to be the start of closed-door discussions, Ramaphosa could be heard saying leaders would move "to adopt our declaration now."

South Africa's foreign minister walked over and whispered in Ramaphosa's ear, and the South African leader said: “OK. I’m told that the cameras are still on. They should be off."

While Ramaphosa's spokesperson said the declaration was unanimous, Argentina said it did not endorse it. Argentine President Javier Milei also did not attend the summit in solidarity with ally Trump, and the country was represented by Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno.

Leaders and officials from France, Germany, the U.K., Canada and Japan held meetings over the proposed U.S. peace deal for the Russia-Ukraine war on the sidelines of the summit. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that representatives from the three European countries, the European Union, the United States and Ukraine would meet in Switzerland on Sunday for more talks.

The peace plan was drawn up by the Trump administration and Russia and gives in to many Russian demands that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected, including his country giving up large pieces of territory.

In a joint statement, the EU, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and the U.K. said the proposed deal was “a basis which will require additional work," and "borders must not be changed by force."

South Africa set the agenda for the summit as the country holding the rotating G20 presidency and wanted leaders to agree to more help for poor countries to recover from climate-fueled disasters, reduce their foreign debt burdens, transition to green energy sources and harness their own critical mineral wealth.

But the summit was without the world's biggest economy after Trump boycotted over his claims that South Africa is violently persecuting its Afrikaner white minority. The Trump administration has also made clear its opposition to South Africa's G20 agenda that focuses on climate change and inequality.

The monthslong rift between the U.S. and South Africa deepened in the buildup to the summit this weekend, but some of the leaders were eager to move on.

“I do regret it,” French President Emmanuel Macron said of Trump's absence, “but it should not block us. Our duty is to be present, engage and work all together because we have so many challenges.”

The G20 is actually a group of 21 members that comprises 19 nations, the European Union and the African Union.

The bloc was formed in 1999 as a bridge between rich and poor nations to confront global financial crises. While it often operates in the shadow of the Group of Seven richest democracies, G20 members together represent around 85% of the world’s economy, 75% of international trade and more than half the global population.

It works on consensus rather than any binding resolutions, though, and that is often hard to come by with the different interests of members like the U.S., Russia, China and the Western European nations France, Germany and the U.K.

G20 declarations detail broad agreements reached by the members. South Africa said the U.S. was exerting pressure on it to tone down the final document to a unilateral statement from the host country.

Ramaphosa responded this week by saying “we will not be bullied."

The direction of the G20 bloc is likely to change sharply after the U.S. takes over the rotating presidency at the end of the summit. The only role the U.S. will play at this meeting will be when a representative from its embassy in South Africa attends the formal handover ceremony, the White House said.

South Africa said it's an insult for Ramaphosa to hand over to a junior diplomatic official and a formal handover likely wouldn't happen on Sunday.

Follow AP’s coverage of the G20 summit in South Africa: https://apnews.com/hub/g20-summit

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, center, reacts next to Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, and South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa as leaders pose for a group photo, on the opening day of the G20 Leaders' Summit, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (Yves Herman/Pool Photo via AP)

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa and. President of Angola and Chairperson of the African Union Joao Lourenco gesture as leaders gather for a group photo at the G20 leaders' summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu, Pool)

Leaders and delegates pose for a group photo, on the opening day of the G20 Leaders' Summit, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (Thomas Mukoya/Pool Photo via AP)

Heads of states gather for a group photo during the G20 leaders' summit, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu,Pool)

From left, Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, France's President Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stand as leaders pose for a group photo, on the opening day of the G20 Leaders' Summit, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (Yves Herman/Pool Photo via AP)

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses the opening session of the G20 leaders' summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu,Pool)

Argentine Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno addresses the opening session of the G20 leaders' summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu,Pool)

France's President Emmanuel Macron and Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz attend a plenary session on the opening day of the G20 Summit at the Nasrec Expo Centre, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (Thomas Mukoya/Pool Photo via AP)

German Chancellor Friedrich Merzi attends a plenary session on the opening day of the G20 Summit at the Nasrec Expo Centre, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (Thomas Mukoya/Pool Photo via AP)

South African Cyril Ramaphosa, right, welcomes welcomes French President Emmanuel Macron, on the opening day of the G20 Summit, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (Halden Krog/Pool Photo via AP)

France's President Emmanuel Macron attends a plenary session on the opening day of the G20 Summit at the Nasrec Expo Centre, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (Thomas Mukoya/Pool Photo via AP)

South African President Cyril Ramaphos aaddresses the opening session of the G20 leaders' summit, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (Thomas Mukoya/Pool Photo via AP)

Members of the media watch on screens as South African President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses the opening session of the G20 leaders' summit, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile, right, welcomes World Bank President Ajay Banga on the opening day of the G20 Summit at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (Thomas Mukoya/Pool Photo via AP)

France's President Emmanuel Macron, left, shakes hands with South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa during their bilateral meeting at the Sandton Convention Centre in Sandton, South Africa, Friday Nov. 21, 2025, ahead of the G20 leaders' Summit. (Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP)

A journalist walks flags of participating country's at the media centre of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, left, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the end of their media conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres addresses a media conference on the eve of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

France's President Emmanuel Macron, left, shakes hands with South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa during their bilateral meeting at the Sandton Convention Centre in Sandton, South Africa, Friday Nov. 21, 2025, ahead of the G20 leaders' Summit. (Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP)

A journalist takes a selfie outside the media centre of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

The risk of a catastrophic explosion at a damaged chemical tank in Southern California has been eliminated following a close overnight inspection that confirmed a crack in the tank relieved pressure and cooled the chemical, authorities said Monday.

Officials said crews conducted tank temperature checks at night to reduce risks to firefighters, avoiding daytime operations when heat from the tank made conditions around it most dangerous. The overnight mission allowed crews to verify the crack and confirm temperatures were falling, Orange County Fire Authority division chief Craig Covey said Monday morning.

Covey said the results of overnight evaluation of the tank — that the temperature inside had dropped and that pressure had been released — was “incredibly positive news.”

However, evacuation orders remained in place for about 50,000 people in Garden Grove, California, located south of Los Angeles.

Covey said falling temperatures and the release of pressure from the tank were allowing officials to “turn the corner on this incident” after days of concern about a possible explosion.

There has been no chemical leak as of early Monday, but the Orange County Fire Authority said the risk to public safety is “ongoing.”'

After the tank overheated Thursday and began venting vapors, firefighters have repeatedly sprayed the tank with water in an attempt to cool the chemical inside, methyl methacrylate, which is used to make plastic parts.

The tank's interior reached 100 degrees (37.7 Celsius) Sunday, an increase of 10 degrees Fahrenheit (5.5 Celsius) since Saturday, according to Democratic state Sen. Tom Umberg. On Monday, Covey said the temperature fell to 93 degrees F (33.9 degrees C).

Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency Saturday and said he asked President Donald Trump to issue an emergency declaration to bolster federal support for local and state officials.

The tank at GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems, which makes parts for commercial and military aircraft, holds 6,000 to 7,000 gallons (22,700 to 26,500 liters) of methyl methacrylate used to make plastic parts.

The first goal of firefighters was to cool off the chemical inside the tank to prevent a leak or explosion.

Drones were monitoring temperatures at 10-minute intervals to watch for any spikes. Containment barriers were set up to prevent the chemical from getting into storm drains or reaching creeks or the nearby ocean in the event of a spill, Covey said earlier.

As the interior temperature rises, methyl methacrylate converts from a liquid to a gas and increases the pressure, according to Purdue University engineering professor Andrew Whelton, who had said earlier that the crack could mean product or pressure is being released, reducing the chance of explosion.

“Think of a soda can. If you leave it in a hot car it can explode,” Whelton said. “But if you put a hole in the can, the product is released and the can itself doesn’t explode.”

An explosion that could spread the chemical over a broad area and send shrapnel flying would be the worst-case scenario, he said.

Aerial photos taken by The Associated Press showed streets in the area were empty Sunday, while several evacuation shelters were open. At a high school in neighboring La Palma, people slept in cars or on mats and sleeping bags on the asphalt.

Garden Grove is next to Anaheim, home to Disneyland’s two theme parks, which were not under evacuation orders. Park officials said they were monitoring the situation.

Exposure to methyl methacrylate can cause serious respiratory problems, neurological problems and irritation to the skin, eyes and throat, according to fact sheets about the chemical.

Whelton said if an explosion occurs, it will be crucial to conduct detailed air monitoring specifically for methyl methacrylate and not just generic tests for volatile organic compounds as officials did after a 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, which released more than 115,000 gallons (435,000 liters) of vinyl chloride after officials blew open five tank cars and burned the chemical.

Orange County health officials said the chemical is easy to smell and people may notice it over a large area without being harmed.

Some Garden Grove residents filed a class-action federal lawsuit Saturday against GKN Aerospace Transparency Systems, which operates the facility where the tank is located. Lawyers for the residents argued that regardless of what happens, property values in the surrounding community are sure to be impacted.

GKN Aerospace did not comment on the lawsuit but has apologized to residents and businesses forced to evacuate. It said Sunday it was “working around the clock to mitigate the risk of a leak.”

GKN Aerospace agreed in 2025 to pay state regulators more than $900,000 to settle violations involving recordkeeping, permitting issues and nitrogen oxide emissions, according to a report on the South Coast Air Quality Management District website.

Associated Press journalist Ethan Swope in Garden Grove, California, contributed to this report.

An evacuation map is displayed at the incident command post at the Los Alamitos Race Course in Cypress, Calif., on Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Water is sprayed on a damaged tank at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove, Calif., on Sunday, May 24, 2026, after the tank containing a chemical used to make plastic parts overheated Thursday. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

The streets remain empty in Garden Grove, Calif., on Sunday, May 24, 2026, after a storage tank containing a chemical used to make plastic parts overheated Thursday at an aerospace plastics facility. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Emergency personnel work at the incident command post at the Los Alamitos Race Course Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Cypress, Calif. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Water is sprayed on a damaged tank at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove, Calif., on Sunday, May 24, 2026, after the tank containing a chemical used to make plastic parts overheated Thursday. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)