Mark Carney Signals Global Power Shift at G20 Summit Without US Presence

When world leaders convened in Johannesburg for the G20 Summit in November 2025, the absence of the United States cast a long shadow over the proceedings. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, however, saw in this absence not a crisis, but an opportunity—a moment that highlighted a fundamental shift in the global economic landscape.

The summit, hosted for the first time on African soil by South Africa, was marked by the Trump administration’s high-profile boycott. President Donald Trump cited alleged abuses of white farmers in South Africa as justification, calling the event’s location a “total disgrace.” South African officials firmly rejected these allegations, labeling them as unfounded. The US decision meant that, instead of a unified communiqué, only a chairman’s summary would emerge from the meeting.

Yet, for Carney and other attending leaders, the summit’s significance was undiminished. Speaking to reporters at its conclusion, Carney described the event as “a reminder that the center of gravity in the global economy is shifting.” His words resonated in a room filled with representatives from nations accounting for three-quarters of the world’s population, two-thirds of global GDP, and a similar share of global trade—all present without formal US participation.

Carney’s optimism was grounded in a pragmatic approach. “We’re signing new deals and finding new investors to fuel our plans for Canada’s economic ambition,” he announced. The Canadian leader pointed to expanded trade and new investment partnerships stretching across continents, from the Indo-Pacific to Europe, with specific focus on sectors like artificial intelligence and energy.

The summit also provided Carney with a platform to showcase Canada’s growing independence on the world stage. In recent years, US-Canada relations have been fraught, with Trump’s administration pushing for aggressive trade policies and even suggesting Canada should become the 51st state—a notion Ottawa strongly rejected. Carney’s election campaign, in fact, had centered on resisting US pressure, especially regarding trade imbalances and sovereignty.

“I won’t have my agenda dictated by the US or its priorities,” Carney insisted, referencing conversations with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “I’ll speak to [President Trump] again when it matters. When America wants to come back and have the discussions on the trade side, we will have those discussions.” This sentiment reflected a broader willingness among G20 leaders to move forward, rather than wait for consensus from Washington.

Social media amplified the summit’s message of solidarity and progress. Carney took to X to congratulate Ramaphosa on a “successful G20 Summit—the first on African soil,” announcing the launch of talks on an investment protection agreement to boost bilateral business. Modi described his meeting with Carney as “very productive,” noting the momentum in Canada-India relations, particularly in trade, technology, energy, and education. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi highlighted Japan’s commitment to working with G20 partners to address global challenges, while South Africa’s government celebrated the event as a milestone for “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability.”

The G20’s ability to convene, collaborate, and produce meaningful outcomes without the US underscored Carney’s central thesis: the world’s largest economy may have chosen to sit out, but the rest of the globe is not standing still. The summit illustrated a growing trend—international cooperation is increasingly multipolar, with new alliances and trade networks taking shape outside traditional US-led frameworks.

For Canada, this shift represents both a challenge and an opportunity. Carney’s administration is positioning the country as a bridge-builder and innovator, seeking investment and influence in emerging sectors and regions. By engaging directly with leaders like Ramaphosa and Modi, Carney signaled that Canada’s economic future will be shaped by diverse partnerships, not by deference to Washington.

Yet, the question remains: how sustainable is this new order? The US, despite its absence, still wields enormous economic and diplomatic power. Its boycott of the G20 was both a statement and a warning—one that could reverberate in future summits, trade negotiations, and geopolitical tensions. For now, however, Carney and his peers appear determined to chart their own course, forging ahead with agreements and initiatives that might once have been delayed or derailed by American dissent.

As the dust settles on Johannesburg, the G20’s outcomes will be measured not just in signed deals, but in the evolving dynamics of global leadership. The summit’s success, in Carney’s view, is proof that cooperation can flourish even when a superpower steps back—and that the world economy is indeed shifting, not just in numbers, but in the very nature of its alliances and ambitions.

Mark Carney’s performance at the G20 Summit signals a confident pivot for Canada and many other nations toward a more balanced, multi-centered global economy. While US absence is significant, the ability of other powers to act and negotiate independently marks a notable transformation in international relations—one that could reshape economic and political alliances for years to come.