South Africa assumes the role of protagonist on the world stage by welcoming the G20 summit to Johannesburg. This edition is special in that it will be the first time an African nation has chaired the group. The upcoming summit carries forward a previous “social summit” that sought to bring civil society voices directly into G20 deliberations. It has been eclipsed by the major no-show of former U.S. president Donald Trump. His decision not to attend has sparked discussions about the role and effectiveness of multilateral organizations in addressing global issues.
South Africa is the last of the G20 countries to assume the presidency in this cycle. It seeks to advocate for themes that matter the most to developing countries. Forward-looking docket on maximizing financing for climate change projects. It seeks to increase African participation in international forums and make sure all countries share the benefits from critical minerals. Fingers crossed, the leaders at the summit will have something to show for all their hard work building consensus.
South Africa’s Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana, emphasized the importance of participation in next year’s G20 meetings. He remarked, “We are members of the G20, we’re not an invited country. So we don’t need an invitation from anybody.” His remarks further emphasize South Africa’s prioritization of their role within the G20 architecture, despite external pressures.
The summit is particularly important to South Africa. It is important for the larger debate on the value of multilateralism and its ability to address global challenges. Ronald Lamola, South Africa’s Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, addressed the implications of the United States’ absence. He stated, “The United States are absent, so in their absence, the countries that are present must make a decision.”
In his comments, Lamola highlighted the necessity for the present leaders to adopt a declaration despite the absence of key figures like Trump. “We are forging ahead to persuade the countries that are present that we must adopt a leaders’ declaration because the institution cannot be bogged down by someone who’s absent.”
Political analyst Richard Calland reflected on a more positive takeaway, not just from Trump’s no-show. He further proposed that this might unintentionally create more authentic and objective consensus among the leaders in attendance. “Ironically, the absence of President Trump may create more space for real consensus because people won’t be constantly looking over their shoulder at him and trying to anticipate or navigate his conduct and his positioning,” he noted.
The importance of this summit is much deeper than simply showing up. Emerging economies are coming to understand that defeating challenges such as climate change and global economic inequality requires collaborative efforts. These challenges cannot be resolved through bilateral agreements or deals with individual countries. While Trump and his supporters argue for direct deals between nations, South Africa and other developing countries contend that international cooperation is essential for addressing challenges like high borrowing costs for poorer nations.
Argentinian President Javier Milei, Trump’s most zealous Latin American ally, has chosen to avoid the G20 summit. Through this trip, he’s standing alongside Washington’s go big or go home approach. This decision deepens the divide among leaders around the world on how to best address urgent global challenges.
That has not detracted from the support South Africa’s presidency of the G20 has received. Close allies, like France, the United Kingdom, and the European Union have been resolute in their support. Their support makes clear how important South Africa is in championing the needs of developing countries. Access to such documents is even more crucial during this unprecedented period of time.