President Cyril Ramaphosa has boldly declared that the G20 Leaders’ Summit, set to take place in Johannesburg next week, will proceed as planned despite the absence of representation from the United States government. This announcement came during a press briefing on the sidelines of the CEO-City Cleanup Partnership Programme in Kliptown, Johannesburg.
The absence of the US delegation, led by President Donald Trump, has raised eyebrows. Trump's decision to withdraw all US representatives has been met with a firm response from President Ramaphosa, who stated, "Boycott politics never work. If you boycott an event or a process, you lose because the show will go on."
Ramaphosa emphasized the importance of the G20, highlighting that it represents "up to 80% of the global economy." He confirmed that nearly 40 other Heads of State and Government, as well as leaders of global organizations, will be in attendance. This underscores the summit's significance in addressing critical global issues despite the US absence.
A symbolic handover of the G20 Presidency is planned, even though the US is slated to be the next G20 President. "We will probably symbolically hand over to that empty chair and then talk to President Trump and say: even though you are not here, I am now handing over to you the reins of being President of the G20," Ramaphosa explained.
Despite the boycott, President Ramaphosa stressed the continued importance of the US as a trading partner. "We want to engage more with their businesses. Government facilitates the engagement at trade and economic level so we want to continue trading with the businesses of the United States, and with the people of the United States. We export products to that country."
Key Takeaways from Ramaphosa's Statement:
- The G20 Summit will proceed as planned, regardless of the US absence.
- Boycotts are ineffective in international diplomacy.
- The US remains a crucial economic partner for South Africa.
- The summit will address critical global issues with broad international participation.
What's Next?
The world will be watching to see how the G20 Summit unfolds and how the absence of the US affects the discussions and decisions made. South Africa's leadership in navigating this situation will be crucial in ensuring the summit's success.