JOHANNESBURG — The G20 summit in South Africa brought together leaders from the world's most influential nations on Saturday, as they sought to navigate the challenges posed by U.S. foreign policy. The summit focused on key issues such as climate change and gender equality, while also addressing a controversial peace proposal for Ukraine that many Western allies found inadequate.

In a significant development, Canada announced a technology agreement with India, a country it has had strained relations with in the past. This move comes alongside a reduction in Canada’s funding for global health initiatives and discussions with nations facing trade pressures from both the U.S. and China. "It is a great day for multilateralism," said Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand. "Canada is utilizing every opportunity, multilaterally and bilaterally, to ensure that our interests are asserted — not only in terms of our economic robustness domestically, but also in terms of our core values."

The summit was marked by a boycott from U.S. President Donald Trump, who accused South Africa of fostering anti-white violence. South African officials countered that Trump's claims do not align with crime statistics. Analysts had expressed concerns that the boycott might prevent the G20 from issuing a joint declaration, which would have been a setback for the first leaders' summit held on the African continent. However, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that an agreement had been reached, encompassing 122 paragraphs, including commitments to combat violence against women. This announcement followed significant protests in South Africa, where the government declared femicide a national disaster.

Ramaphosa's spokesman, Vincent Magwenya, emphasized the importance of moving forward despite the U.S. boycott, calling it "a short-term blip." He noted that the U.S. is set to chair the G20 next and that the U.K. is prepared to take on the presidency in 2027. While Argentina's delegation expressed dissent regarding the declaration, Ramaphosa clarified that countries could voice their disagreements without nullifying the agreement.

The summit also saw pushback against the Trump administration's proposed peace deal for Ukraine, which has been criticized for favoring Moscow. The proposal suggests that Ukraine should cede territory, reduce its military size, and refrain from joining NATO, while offering limited security guarantees. Canada, along with European nations and Japan, issued a statement supporting U.S. peace efforts but indicated that the plan requires further refinement. Anand reiterated Canada’s commitment to Ukraine's territorial sovereignty, stating that it is up to Kyiv to determine its future.

In addition to these discussions, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney participated in a meeting with leaders from the European Union and Vietnam, focusing on trade among Pacific Rim countries. Carney aims to position Canada as a mediator for nations advocating for free trade, opposing coercive practices from the U.S. and China. He also engaged in trilateral talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to establish a partnership on emerging technologies, aiming to diversify supply chains and promote clean energy.

Carney's visit to South Africa comes amid criticism of Canada’s Africa strategy, which was released shortly before the summit. Critics argue that the strategy lacks new funding and that Canada is losing influence in Africa by not coordinating its business, aid, and security efforts effectively.

In a notable shift, Canada announced a reduction in its support for the Global Fund, which addresses infectious diseases like tuberculosis and HIV. The country will contribute $1 billion over the next three years, a decrease of more than 17% from its previous contribution. Activists warn that this cut could lead to increased mortality rates due to reduced access to life-saving medications. Anand defended Canada’s contributions, stating that they represent a larger share of total Global Fund contributions compared to previous years, despite an overall decline in funding.

Carney is scheduled to address the media early Sunday before returning to Ottawa later that evening, following a series of G20 meetings.