Top diplomats from the Group of 20 major economies will meet in South Africa on Thursday for talks dominated by global challenges but overshadowed by the absence of the top U.S. envoy.
As a lead-up to the G20 summit in November, the foreign ministers will gather for a two-day meeting, marking the first time such talks are held in Africa.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the keynote address at the session, which starts at 2:00 p.m. (1200 GMT).
South Africa, the first African nation to lead the G20, assumed the presidency last year, aiming to amplify the voices of developing countries in global discussions. The bloc includes 19 nations, along with the European Union and the African Union, representing over 80% of global GDP and two-thirds of the world’s population.
However, the United States—the group’s wealthiest member—will not attend, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio has opted out, accusing Pretoria of an “anti-American” stance.
Wars in Africa and Europe will be key topics, said South Africa’s Ambassador to the U.N., Xolisa Mabhongo. Yet, the broader geopolitical context looms large, noted Priyal Singh, a senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria.
The meeting comes amid tensions over the Russia-Ukraine conflict, particularly after U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to blame Kyiv for the invasion nearly three years ago. His remarks followed high-level U.S.-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia, which Ukraine did not attend.
“The growing divide between the U.S. and its European allies is clear,” Singh said, warning that this could hinder South Africa’s push for a unified developmental agenda.
‘Symbolic Message’
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, along with Chinese and Indian officials, have confirmed their attendance. European representatives, including France’s Jean-Noel Barrot and the UK’s David Lammy, will also be present.
The U.S. will be represented at a lower level by Dana Brown, deputy chief of mission at the American embassy in Pretoria.
“It’s not a full boycott of South Africa’s G20,” Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said Wednesday, downplaying concerns over Rubio’s absence.
However, William Gumede, a public management professor at the University of the Witwatersrand, warned that Rubio’s no-show could shift the meeting’s focus.
“It sends a message that the U.S. is not prioritising Africa,” he said.
The absence comes after Washington froze crucial aid to Africa earlier this month, forcing governments to seek alternative funding for essential services.
South Africa has faced increasing U.S. scrutiny, particularly over its land reform policies and its legal challenge against U.S.-ally Israel at the International Court of Justice. Trump has accused the South African government of seizing land from white farmers and discriminating against certain groups—claims Pretoria has dismissed as inaccurate.
South African officials have vowed not to be “intimidated or bullied into submission.”
Adding to tensions, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced he would not attend next week’s G20 finance ministers’ meeting in Cape Town.
For analysts like Gumede, a key question remains: “Can South Africa turn the U.S. absence into an opportunity?”
AFP
