CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — The Group of Twenty has enough “shock absorbers” to function effectively if Donald Trump’s new administration promotes America First policies at the expense of international cooperation, South Africa’s leader said Tuesday when his country took power as the bloc’s presidency.
South Africa on Sunday took over rotating leadership of the group of the world’s leading economies from Brazil and will hand it over to the United States at the end of 2025.
These three countries will work together over the next twelve months according to the G20 protocol.
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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said he would increase the impact of climate change on developing countries during South Africa’s G20 presidency – the first by an African country. US President-elect Trump has shown his disdain for international cooperation on climate issues.
“We will try to reach sufficient consensus on decisions to be taken by the G20,” Ramaphosa said when asked if the G20 was prepared for a likely Trump America First approach in his second administration, which starts on January 20. I think enough shock absorbers will be installed so that the G20 can continue to function. … We promote the interests of the people of the world.”
Trump has indicated that his foreign policy will be combative. He has pledged to impose new tariffs on China, Mexico and Canada, while this weekend he also threatened 100% tariffs against countries in the BRICS bloc of developing countries, including Brazil, Russia, China, India, South Africa and others .
Trump wrote on social media site BRICS countries have said they want to reduce their dependence on the dollar, but the group has taken little concrete action and analysts say this is unfeasible given the dollar’s dominance.
Ramaphosa said on Tuesday he had contacted the newly-elected US president to congratulate him on his election victory and to entice the golf-loving Trump to make a state visit to South Africa to view its “beautiful golf courses”. He also said he hoped Trump would travel to the G20 summit in South Africa at the end of 2025.
“If he has time, and he is very busy… President Trump and possibly myself can go play golf and talk about global affairs,” Ramaphosa said.
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AP Africa News: https://apnews.com/hub/africa
