South Africa’s Ramaphosa Calls for Multilateralism and International Law Amid Trump’s Unilateralism
Pretoria, South Africa – Amidst the global upheaval caused by President Donald Trump’s policies, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has implored the international community to uphold "multilateralism" and "international law" at a G20 foreign ministers’ meeting boycotted by the United States.
Multilateralism and International Law Under Siege
As the United States pursues unilateral actions on issues such as Ukraine and Gaza, the G20 meeting in Pretoria marked an opportunity for Ramaphosa to emphasize the importance of collective action and adherence to established norms. In his opening remarks, Ramaphosa stressed that "the principles of the United Nations Charter, multilateralism and international law must remain central to all our endeavors. They must be the glue that binds us together."
The meeting brought together foreign ministers from various countries, including BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) members and key European and Asian powers. However, the absence of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo cast a long shadow over the proceedings.
US Absence Sends a Message
The United States’ decision not to attend the meeting was widely seen as a snub to South Africa, the first African country to chair the G20. "The non-participation of the United States is ‘the elephant in the room,’" observed Priyal Singh, a researcher at the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria.
In the absence of the US, Pretoria’s American embassy chargé d’affaires, Dana Brown, served as the US representative. Notably, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin also canceled his planned attendance at the G20 finance ministers’ meeting in Cape Town later this month.
Symbolic Messaging
Analysts suggest that the US’s absence sends a symbolic message to Africa. According to William Gumede, a political science professor at the University of the Witwatersrand, "it sends a signal that the US doesn’t take the continent seriously."
However, Ramaphosa downplayed the significance of Pompeo’s absence, stating that "it’s not a boycott because the US is represented here."
Climate Change and Debt Relief
Despite the diplomatic distractions, Ramaphosa attempted to steer the meeting’s agenda towards pressing issues facing the developing world. He highlighted the urgency of addressing climate change and its disproportionate impact on vulnerable countries.
Ramaphosa also called for innovative financial solutions to alleviate the burden of debt on developing economies, enabling them to invest in growth and resilience.
Trump Administration’s Resistance
The Trump administration has been critical of South Africa’s stance on climate change and its move to pursue expropriation of land without compensation from white farmers. The US has also accused Pretoria of "using the G20 to promote" its "diversity" and "climate change" agenda.
Balancing Act
Despite these tensions, Ramaphosa remains committed to maintaining a constructive relationship with the US. "We want to be able to engage with each other directly," he said.
South Africa’s presidency of the G20 provides an opportunity for the country to showcase its vision for inclusive growth and sustainable development. However, the global realignment underway during the Trump presidency presents challenges that Ramaphosa and his administration must navigate with diplomatic finesse.
