President Cyril Ramaphosa. Photo: Brenton Geach/Gallo Images
President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Tuesday he hopes US President-elect Donald Trump will attend the Group of 20 summit in South Africa next year and find time for some friendly golf.
“If he has time, he has a very busy schedule, and if he can go to the golf course and hit some balls, we'll point him in the right direction, on the beautiful course that we have. I will be coaching in one of the schools,” Ramaphosa said.
“And we may find that there is intense competition among golf courses as to where President Trump and perhaps myself can go to play golf and discuss world issues.”
South Africa on Sunday assumed the presidency of the G20, the highest body for international economic cooperation, and is due to host its annual summit in late November 2025.
In a few days, he will hand over the presidency to the United States, which now forms part of the troika along with South Africa and former president Brazil.
Given the expected change in foreign policy focus under the Trump administration, Mr Ramaphosa said that under South Africa's leadership the He dismissed concerns that the decision could be immediately amended by the United States.
The next U.S. president has announced plans to raise trade tariffs on China, Canada and Mexico, three of the United States' largest trading partners, and is thought to be less focused on relations with Africa than the outgoing administration of Joe Biden. There is.
“I don't think what will be decided here will be diluted,” Prime Minister Ramaphosa said.
“When South Africa assumed the presidency on Sunday, the United States formally joined the G20 troika and is expected to adhere to tradition and cooperate with the incumbent throughout the year.”
Mr Ramaphosa noted that the troika system is aimed at ensuring continuity of the Forum's activities.
“The strength of the G20 is that each declaration builds on previous declarations, including the results of discussions in the various working groups,” he said.
“This sets out a set of information, a precedent, from which the G20 rarely departs. You heard us say that we are going to aim to review the G20 in the past.”
In its review, Ramaphosa said South Africa's G20 team had scrutinized the implementation and development of decisions on topics developed under the control of other countries, from climate change and global trade to human rights.
“What we found there was always progress, and progress was always made as the G20 had to address existential issues that affected different parts of the world.”
He said that meant South Africa was not concerned that anything agreed during its term as G20 president would be treated differently.
“Every good decision will be reflected in subsequent decisions and we will be able to remind everyone, through our various working groups, through our Sherpas and Su Sherpas, of the decisions that have been made.
“Therefore, I think there is little scope for materially changing what the G20 would have concluded.”
Mr Ramaphosa said South Africa's approach during its G20 presidency was to seek to ensure decisions were taken through “full consensus”.
“So I think there will be enough buffers in place to allow the G20 to continue to function in a way that promotes global interests.
“Through the G20, we must remember that we are not advancing the interests of one country, but the interests of all the peoples of the world.”
He reiterated that while doing so, South Africa would seek to use this opportunity to amplify its voice and address the common concerns of Africa and the rest of the Global South.
“Through this Presidency, South Africa has a unique opportunity to advance efforts towards further global economic growth and sustainable development, and to ensure that the issues that matter most to our own continent and the Global South are fully addressed. It also has an important role to bring to the table for discussion.
“But it also gives us the opportunity as South Africans to influence the development trajectory that we want to see in the world.”
He said South Africa's foreign policy choices, including the landmark genocide case against Israel brought to the International Court of Justice, should not complicate cooperation with powerful G20 members.
“When it comes to Israel and Palestine, and our position on the wars that continue to occur around the world, we are a peace-loving nation, but we have also taken on the role of peacebuilders whenever possible.”
He argued that South Africa gained much leverage from its non-aligned status because it allowed it to act as a neutral intermediary.
“In various conflicts, we have been able to talk to both sides, even though we have tended to upset other countries. But once they understand the role we are playing, they have been able to We highly value South Africa's role in this.”
Pretoria is expected to have to cooperate with or avoid US efforts to end the war in Ukraine, which President Trump has said will broker peace within a day.
Foreign media reports in recent days indicate that the incoming U.S. administration has threatened to withhold military aid to Ukraine or increase military aid if Russia recalcitrant, threatening to force both countries to come to the negotiating table. indicates an intention to do so.
President and Minister of International Relations Ronald Lamola has reiterated that he believes South Africa has the ability to broker direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine because “we are not arming either side.” It's here.
Last year, U.S. lawmakers sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressing “grave concerns” about South Africa hosting the Agoa Forum and expressing the country's position on Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the ship Lady R. He cited suspicions that he had supplied weapons to Moscow. .
Their demands were for the White House to put pressure on Pretoria under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa Act), which gives sub-Saharan states tax-free access to the United States.
Nothing came of it, and Ramaphosa said he doubted whether the incoming Trump administration would revisit the trade deal because it was mutually beneficial.
“We benefit, but on the other hand, the countries that signed this to give African countries free trade access also benefit. So we don't want to cut off our noses to disfigure our faces. ”
South Africa hopes to use its G20 Presidency to not only campaign for policy changes that benefit developing countries in multilateral forums, but also to demonstrate opportunities for direct investment.
President Ramaphosa stressed that South Africa will host more than 130 decision-makers' meetings over the next year, attended by officials from around 30 countries and representatives from more than 20 regional and international organizations.
He added that some people may decide to “leave their money” in South Africa.
