JOHANNESBURG:
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa inaugurated the Group of 20 (G20) foreign ministers’ meeting on Thursday with a call for unity and collaboration amid growing geopolitical tensions and rising global intolerance. The event was notably marked by the absence of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Diplomats from the world’s leading economies convened in Johannesburg for the two-day summit, which is being hosted in Africa for the first time. Ramaphosa emphasized the importance of upholding the principles of the United Nations Charter, multilateralism, and international law in global affairs.
The G20, which consists of 19 countries along with the European Union and the African Union, remains divided on several critical issues, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the global response to climate change. Additionally, world leaders have differing views on how to navigate policy shifts stemming from the return of President Donald Trump.
“As the G20, we must continue to champion diplomatic resolutions to global conflicts,” Ramaphosa stated. “It is vital to recognize that cooperation remains our greatest strength,” he added. He urged leaders to foster constructive dialogue and work towards finding common ground.
