JOHANNESBURG – Foreign ministers from the Group of 20 (G-20) top economies were to meet in South Africa on Feb 20 and 21, amid tensions between members over the Ukraine war, trade disputes and with the top US diplomat staying away owing to a feud with the hosts.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The G-20 countries, which represent some 85 per cent of global gross domestic product and three-quarters of trade, often struggle to see eye to eye, but geopolitical rifts since Russia’s 2022 Ukraine invasion have rendered it more fractious than ever.
The discord has increased since US President Donald Trump took office a month ago and implemented rapid changes in Washington’s trade and foreign policies.
South Africa holds the rotating presidency of the group and for President Cyril Ramaphosa the first G-20 meeting in Africa was an opportunity to get rich nations to heed poorer countries’ concerns – worsening inequality, inadequate action on climate change, and a financial system that favours investment banks over poor sovereign debtors.
But the United States will not be attending: Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier in February rejected as “very bad” the previously agreed agenda of “diversity, equity and inclusion”.
Then Mr Trump cut US aid to South Africa in an ideological dispute with the latter’s efforts to redress historic racial injustices in land ownership – and over its genocide case against US ally Israel at the International Court of Justice.
The gathering takes place as Mr Trump has upended the US policy of solidarity with Ukraine as he seeks to broker peace in its war with Russia. He has blamed President Volodymyr Zelensky for the conflict, and sidelined Nato allies in ending a campaign to isolate Russia.
The US absence is an opportunity for China, which has the world’s second-biggest economy, to expand its influence. Such efforts by Beijing are normally focused on the Global South, but China has quickly sought to capitalise on the cracks in the transatlantic alliance.
Its Foreign Ministry said on Feb 17 that “healthy and stable” China-European Union relations are needed now more than ever. REUTERS
