G20 Foreign Ministers Gather to Meet for Two Days

In preparation for the G20 summit in November, foreign ministers from member nations will meet for two days in Africa for the first time. The discussions will begin with a keynote speech from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at 2:00 pm (1200 GMT). South Africa, which assumed the G20 presidency last year, aims to amplify the voices of poorer nations, encouraging wealthier countries to listen. The group, which includes 19 nations, the European Union, and the African Union, represents over 80% of global GDP and two-thirds of the world’s population.
However, the United States will not attend the two-day talks after Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized the event and accused South Africa of promoting an “anti-American” agenda. Key topics, including conflicts in Africa and Europe, will be discussed, with the geopolitical context of the meeting being a central concern. Xolisa Mabhongo, South Africa’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, pointed out the tensions surrounding the Russia-Ukraine conflict, especially following President Donald Trump’s controversial comments blaming Ukraine for the Russian invasion.
This absence from the U.S. is seen as symptomatic of a growing rift between Washington and its European allies, which could undermine South Africa’s efforts to push a “common developmental agenda.” Despite the U.S. absence, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, as well as representatives from China and India, will attend. European diplomats, including France’s Jean-Noel Barrot and the UK’s David Lammy, are also expected. The U.S. will only be represented by Dana Brown, the deputy chief of mission at the U.S. embassy in Pretoria, prompting concerns that this symbolic gesture will diminish the meeting’s impact.
The absence of senior U.S. officials sends a message to Africa about the country’s diminished focus on the continent. South Africa’s recent land policy and a dispute with Israel at the International Court of Justice have strained relations with the U.S., which also suspended aid to South Africa. Despite this, South Africa remains firm, rejecting U.S. claims of land confiscation and vowing not to be intimidated. The G20 finance ministers’ meeting next week in Cape Town will also be affected by these tensions, with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirming he would not attend.
Analyst William Gumede questions how South Africa can turn the absence of the U.S. into a strategic advantage. With the G20 comprising nations that represent about 85% of global GDP, the discord, fueled by the Ukraine conflict and other geopolitical issues, highlights challenges in aligning on key matters. While the U.S. skips the meeting, China may see this as an opportunity to expand its influence, particularly in the Global South, as divisions within the transatlantic alliance grow.