The third meeting of the G20 sherpas began on Wednesday under SA’s presidency, with the notable absence of the US, which has maintained an antagonistic stance towards the multilateral forum.
Washington’s decision to stay away from the meetings is despite an undertaking by US President Donald Trump that the country would participate in G20 events, including the G20 leaders’ summit in SA scheduled for November.
The US’s shunning of the event underscores the continued diplomatic friction between SA and its second-largest trading partner, despite a high-level bilateral meeting between President Cyril Ramaphosa and Trump in Washington where SA presented a trade proposal and sought to dispel claims of “white genocide” in the country.
Tension between SA and the US reached a high after the renewed circulation of claims alleging a campaign of “white genocide” in the country — rhetoric Pretoria has condemned as false and inflammatory.
SA is due to hand over the presidency of the multilateral body to the US in November. During SA’s presidency the members of the G20 troika are Brazil, SA and the US.
As the current chair of the G20, SA has outlined trade equity, development financing and institutional reform as central pillars of its agenda for the summit.
SA, which holds the rotating G20 presidency for 2025, has sought to position itself as a bridge between developed and emerging economies at a time of heightened international tension.
“Though the US may not be present today, we have had at least two troika meetings and also bilateral engagements in Washington,” SA’s G20 sherpa, Zane Dangor, said during the opening session of the meeting.
The three-day meeting will refine objectives, identify innovative approaches, build early consensus regarding the declaration to be presented at the leaders’ summit and “resolve any challenges that may hinder the successful finalisation of these declarations”, Dangor said.
“The meeting will provide an opportunity for the sherpas to have a discussion on topical geopolitical issues as part of their agenda.
“Although the G20 is a forum for international economic co-operation, it recognises that ongoing conflicts worldwide are detrimental to economic development and the attainment of the sustainable development goals,” he said.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.