South Africa Initiates G20 Dialogue, US Skips the Conference
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed G20 foreign ministers, emphasizing the importance of international law and multilateralism in resolving global issues. This comes amid apprehensions regarding the "America First" policy of the Trump administration. Significantly, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent absented themselves from the conference, with Bessent indicating he would also skip the upcoming assembly of G20 finance ministers.
Rubio declined to indulge in what he termed "anti-Americanism", while Bessent cited other obligations in Washington. Notably, South Africa is the inaugural African nation to preside over the G20 and aims to promote the concerns of developing countries in discussions with the world's leading economies.
The G20 comprises 19 nations, the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU), and accounts for over 80% of the global economy and two-thirds of the world's population. The foreign ministers of China, Russia, France, and the UK are among those participating in the Johannesburg conference, and the US is represented by the deputy chief of mission from its South African embassy.
In his introductory speech, Ramaphosa mentioned the threats to the delicate global coexistence, including escalating intolerance, conflicts, and climate change. He underscored the lack of agreement among powerful nations, including G20 members, on tackling these significant global challenges.
The South African president asserted the necessity of upholding UN Charter principles, multilateralism, and international law in all our endeavors. South Africa will retain the G20 presidency until November 2025 when it is anticipated to pass the baton to the US.
Since Donald Trump took office in January, the relationship between the two nations has grown tense, casting doubts over South Africa's potential achievements during its presidency. Trump has reduced aid to South Africa, alleging it of "unjust and immoral practices" against the white minority Afrikaner community and initiating a genocide case against Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in December 2023.
Following Trump's decision, Rubio announced he wouldn't be attending the foreign ministers' meeting, accusing South Africa of using the G20 platform to advance "solidarity, equality, & sustainability," or in other words, "diversity, equity, and inclusion" and climate change. He further stated that his role is to further America's national interests, not squander taxpayer money or indulge in anti-Americanism.