Source of this photo, AFP via Getty Images
Caption for this photo: President Cyril Ramaphosa states the US will lose out by skipping the G20 summit
Article Information
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- Author: Khanyisile Ngcobo
- Location: Reporting from Johannesburg
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33 minutes ago
South Africa is quite chuffed to host the G20 summit this year, marking the first occasion it’s held on African soil. President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his views rather plainly regarding the United States’ decision to skip the summit. He believes the US will be “missing out” by not attending the gathering set between 22-23 November in Johannesburg. As AFP reports, the President noted, “boycott politics simply doesn’t work.”
President Donald Trump has refused participation, citing allegations of persecution against white individuals in South Africa as the primary reason. Instead, he plans to send Vice-President JD Vance. Adding more to the issue, Trump also shared concerns about what he termed as “white genocide,” claims described by the South African government as “widely discredited and unsupported by reliable evidence.” For further insight, you may refer to BBC News.
When addressing parliament, Ramaphosa remarked, “The absence of the US is their loss,” emphasising that the US is “forfeiting a crucial role as the world’s largest economy.” These statements were echoed in an AFP report. He also pointed out that no US representative will attend as long as these alleged human rights abuses continue. Despite this, the summit will proceed, with various critical economic issues set to be discussed among global leaders.
An intriguing twist is that Trump had previously welcomed Afrikaners amidst attempts to limit refugee numbers entering the US. Further information can be found at The Guardian. Trump’s decision to skip isn’t unique; Argentinian President Javier Milei is also opting out, sending Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno instead.
What is the G20?
The G20, or Group of Twenty, is a collective of countries that gather to discuss global economic strategies. Together, these nations represent 85% of global economic activity and 75% of international trade, encompassing two-thirds of the world’s population.
The members include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the UK, and the US, along with the European Union. Spain frequently joins as a guest. Plenty more details about the group are accessible via the official G20 website.
This year, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has attended upon a special invitation from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The G20 also has a smaller grouping known as the G7, which consists of some of its members. Such gatherings play an essential role in shaping our global economic landscape, making the participation of each member rather significant indeed.
