South Africa launched Africa’s inaugural G20 meeting, championing multilateralism in response to its decline posing risks to global stability. However, significant absences from key finance ministers underscored existing geopolitical tensions, particularly related to Russia and China, indicating serious fractures in global cooperation. Notable countries including the US and Brazil opted out, reflecting these ongoing challenges.
South Africa’s President opened the first G20 meeting hosted by Africa with a strong defense of multilateralism. He emphasized that the decline of cooperative global efforts poses a significant risk to both growth and stability on a global scale. Despite this, the meeting was marked by notable absences, particularly among several finance ministers, including US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, underlining existing geopolitical tensions.
The limited attendance at the G20 highlighted ongoing geopolitical frictions related to South Africa’s international relations. These include criticisms regarding the nation’s ties with Russia amid its invasion of Ukraine, concerns about China’s expansionist policies, and South Africa’s stances on the Israel-Gaza conflict, where they seek to label Israel’s actions as genocide. Key participants such as the US, Brazil, China, India, Japan, and Mexico, chose not to attend, reflecting deeper underlying fractures in this once-prominent multilateral platform.
The South African-hosted G20 meeting showcased the nation’s commitment to multilateralism amid geopolitical struggles. The absence of major global players points to significant rifts in international relations and highlights the challenges facing collaborative efforts on pressing global issues. Understanding these tensions is essential for addressing the future of multilateral forums and their effectiveness in fostering global cooperation.
Original Source: www.semafor.com
