Despite the United States' decision to boycott the G20 summit in South Africa this weekend, the United Kingdom has affirmed its commitment to pursuing its full G20 agenda. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is still expected to attend the leaders' summit, signalling the UK's dedication to global collaboration.
Speaking to Business Day ahead of the B20 and G20 leaders' summit, UK High Commissioner Antony Phillipson acknowledged that Washington's decision – which included a formal notice accepting only a chair’s summary and not a negotiated declaration – “changes the dynamic” of the event. However, he maintained that it does not diminish the value of the forum itself.
The US decision came after initial plans for Vice-President JD Vance to attend. President Donald Trump abruptly cancelled all participation, citing alleged human rights abuses, specifically claiming that “Afrikaners are being killed and slaughtered”.
Despite the US absence, Phillipson emphasized that London would not reduce its commitment. “It’s not as if we’ve said, ‘There’s no point turning up,’” he stated. “We will pursue UK geostrategic, geo-economic and bilateral interests as far as we possibly can.”
Phillipson believes that the US's early refusal to sign a leaders' declaration might, paradoxically, “allow others to focus on what we want in the chair’s summary”. He also noted that the US delegation had previously participated in G20 work streams, including the energy transition working group in Durban, where they were reportedly obstructive.
Despite these challenges, Phillipson highlighted the UK's role as a core member of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) as a key example of its commitment to global action on energy and climate issues. The US has withdrawn from the partnership, further emphasizing the divergence in approaches to international cooperation.
Key Takeaways:
- UK remains committed to G20 agenda in South Africa despite US boycott.
- US cited alleged human rights abuses as the reason for their absence.
- UK sees an opportunity to focus on key priorities despite the US withdrawal.
- The UK is actively involved in the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).