Without The US, The G20 State Foreign Minister Meets In South Africa Amid The Threat Of A Trade War

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa/PHOTO via Instagram @cyrilraphosa

JAKARTA - Foreign ministers from major G20 economies met in South Africa on Thursday.

The meeting comes amid tensions between members over Ukraine's war, a major US trade dispute and diplomats moving away over a dispute with the hosts.

G20 countries representing around 85% of global GDP and three-quarters of trade, are often struggling to reach an agreement.

But the geopolitical rift since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has made it more divided than ever before.

This dispute has escalated since President Donald Trump took office a month ago and implemented rapid changes to Washington's trade and foreign policy.

"Geopolitical tensions and rising intolerance, conflicts and threatening roles coexist globally that are already fragile," said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who holds the group's rotating presidential term, in a speech opening the meeting.

South Africa considered the first G20 meeting on the continent an opportunity to invite rich countries to pay attention to the concerns of poor countries worsening the gap, inadequate action of rich countries against climate change, and financial systems that favor investment banks more than debtors of poor countries.

"Those most responsible for climate change, you have the duty and responsibility to support those most irresponsible," Ramaphosa said.

He also called for debt sustainability for low-income countries.

The United States was not present. Foreign Minister Marco Rubio earlier this month rejected the previously agreed "diversity, equality and inclusion" agenda for "very bad" reasons.

Trump then stopped US aid to South Africa over ideological disputes with South Africa's efforts to correct historic racial injustice in land ownership and over the genocide case against US ally Israel, at the International Court.

The meeting comes as Trump has changed US solidarity policies with Ukraine as he seeks to broker peace in his war with Russia.

He blamed President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for the conflict, and ruled out NATO allies in ending the campaign to isolate Russia.

"As the G20, we must continue to advocate for diplomatic solutions to the conflict," continued Ramaphosa, who resisted pressure to isolate Russia from the invasion.

The absence of the US is an opportunity for China, which is the country with the second-largest economy in the world, to expand its influence.

Beijing's efforts are usually focused on South countries, but China is rapidly trying to take advantage of the gaps in the transatlantic alliance.

China's foreign ministry said Monday that China-EU relations that are 'healthy and stable' are needed now compared to before.