Was South Africa's G20 summit a success, despite a US boycott? | Inside Story

Key Concepts

• G20 Summit
• Multilateralism
• Global Governance
• US Boycott
• Climate Change
• Global Inequality
• Debt Restructuring
• Peace in Ukraine, Palestine, and Sudan
• International Criminal Court (ICC) / International Court of Justice (ICJ)
• Rare Earth Minerals
• Energy Transition
• UN Security Council
• BRICS
• Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)
• Double Standards in International Relations
• Geopolitical Interests
• Racism in Global Relations

G20 Summit: A Success Amidst US Boycott and Future Uncertainty

Overview of the Summit

The G20 summit hosted by South Africa, Africa's first, was declared a success by the host nation despite a boycott by the United States. World leaders reached an agreement on a range of pressing issues, including climate change, global inequality, and seeking peace in conflict zones. However, the summit will likely be remembered for the absence of the US, raising questions about the future of the G20 in an increasingly polarized world. French President Emmanuel Macron warned that the future of the G20 could be at risk, not only due to the US's stance but also other divisions, such as the war in Ukraine.

Key Points of the Declaration

The declaration, adopted early in the summit, focused on several central themes:

• Climate Crisis: Addressing the climate crisis and supporting countries vulnerable to extreme weather.
• Global Inequality: Tackling global inequality, including the restructuring of debt for developing nations.
• Peace Initiatives: Calling for a just peace in Ukraine, Palestine, and Sudan.

The adoption of the declaration was seen as an important signal of the effectiveness of multilateralism and a message of hope and solidarity.

Statistics and Figures Mentioned

• Clean Energy Investment: Of the two trillion dollars invested globally in clean energy last year, only 2% was in Africa.
• Electricity Access: Africa has 600 million people without access to electricity.
• G20 Representation: The G20 represents 85% of the world's GDP and two-thirds of its population.

US Boycott and its Rationale

President Donald Trump boycotted the summit, citing two main reasons:

1. Allegations of White Genocide: Trump accused South Africa of mistreating its white minority, a claim dismissed as a "joke" and "laughable" by South African officials. This narrative was reportedly started by racist groups in South Africa and amplified by figures like Elon Musk.
2. Opposition to Climate Change and Global Inequality Actions: Trump opposes actions on climate change and global inequality.

However, experts suggest the real reason for Trump's absence was South Africa's stance on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) case against Israel concerning its actions in Palestine.

Historical Context of the G20

The G20 was created in 1999 in response to the Asian financial crisis and was further strengthened after the 2008 global economic crash. Its wider reach and larger membership were seen as more effective in dealing with crises compared to the smaller G7 group of richest nations.

The Future of the G20: Functionality Without the US

Can the G20 Function Without the US?

The absence of the US participation made it easier to reach a declaration, but it raises concerns about the declaration's execution. Experts argue that the G20 truly needs the participation of all members and consensus for its decisions to be implemented. Without the US, a major participant, declarations may be ignored by subsequent presidencies with different agendas.

• Richard Vites' Perspective: The US government will likely ignore the declaration and push its own agenda when it takes over the presidency. Decisions made may not be supported by resources or follow-up.
• Omar Shaw's Perspective: If "function" means issuing communiqués and statements without necessarily investing or enforcing decisions, then it's extremely difficult. The US remains the leading global power, and its disengagement, coupled with other powers being "half in, half out," makes the G20 look more like an "ad hoc contact group" issuing statements without significant follow-up.

The Gap in Global Governance

The UN Security Council's inability to function due to great power divisions has created a gap in global governance. Other institutions like the G7/G8 have had some successes, but with a weak UN Security Council and divided membership in many organizations, this gap is not easily solvable.

The Role of Regional Organizations

The discussion touched upon whether smaller organizations like BRICS, ASEAN, or the Arab League could be a better way to sort out issues locally before bringing them to the UN. While theoretically possible, it requires political will, experience, and the capacity to bear costs, which are often lacking. The US has historically played a significant role in addressing global issues, sometimes without UN Security Council resolutions, as seen in the intervention in Kosovo. However, the willingness and cost of such interventions are significant deterrents for democratic leaders.

South Africa's Stance and the Israel-Palestine Conflict

The "White Genocide" Claim

South African officials and other summit attendees dismissed Donald Trump's claim of "white genocide" in South Africa as baseless and laughable.

The Real Reason for US Absence

The primary reason for Trump's boycott is believed to be South Africa's role in taking Israel to the ICJ for alleged genocidal actions against Palestinians. South Africa remains firm in its position, condemning the killing of innocent people and the destruction of infrastructure in Gaza, the West Bank, and potentially extending to Lebanon and Syria.

Challenges and Double Standards in International Relations

Competing Agendas

A major challenge for international forums like the G20 is the competing agendas of individual countries.

Double Standards in Global Affairs

The discussion highlighted the existence of double standards in international relations.

• Omar Shaw: While difficult to pinpoint racism as the sole factor, interests, strategic relations, and attitudes play a role. He also pointed out that the response to the conflict in Ukraine differs from situations involving non-European or non-white populations, suggesting a double standard.
• Richard Vites: Acknowledged double standards, citing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the UN Security Council's veto power as examples. He argued that these double standards are sometimes necessary for the system to function.

The G20's Future and South Africa's Agenda

Focusing the G20's Mission

There's a question of whether the G20, which has had successes in economic crises, might be better off focusing its mission on being an economic bloc rather than trying to address too many issues.

Amplifying African Voices

The G20 serves as a platform to amplify the voices and grievances of disadvantaged nations. South Africa's presidency brought forward important discussions on:

• Debt Restructuring: Addressing historical colonial debt that impedes African development.
• Rare Earth Minerals: African nations view their abundant rare earth minerals as their "oil moment," aiming to dictate extraction, import, and pricing, and focusing on beneficiation for AI and electric vehicles.
• Just Energy Transition: Developed nations are expected to fund the transition for African countries.

Confidence in the US Presidency

South Africa is not confident that its declaration's aims will be achieved when the US takes over the presidency. Rumors suggest the US might try to prevent South Africa from remaining part of the Troika (the secretariat that runs G20 business between summits).

Conclusion: A Frustrating Lack of a Better System

The discussion concluded with a sense of frustration regarding the lack of a better global governance system. The current international organizations, despite their flaws, are the only forums available. The failure to come up with a more effective system is seen as dangerous, especially in an environment where nuclear weapons exist and security assurances have proven unreliable, as exemplified by Ukraine's disarmament in exchange for security guarantees that were later violated. While the post-WWII system managed to avoid major international wars, the current geopolitical climate is described as "dicey" and more precarious than the 1990s.