South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has told G20 foreign ministers that a commitment to multilateralism and international law is vital to solving global crises. His comments follow growing concern about the Trump administration's "America First" policy, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio boycotting the meeting and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent saying he will not attend next week's gathering of G20 finance ministers. The G20 consists of 19 countries, along with the African Union (AU) and European Union (EU), and makes up more than 80% of the global economy and two-thirds of the world population.

The foreign ministers of China, Russia, France, and the UK are among those attending the meeting in Johannesburg, while the US is represented by the deputy chief of mission at its South African embassy. In his opening address, Ramaphosa said that an "already fragile global coexistence" was threatened by rising intolerance, conflicts, and climate change. He emphasized the need for the principles of the UN Charter, multilateralism, and international law to remain at the center of all endeavors. South Africa holds the G20 presidency until November 2025, when it is expected to hand it over to the US, raising questions about how much South Africa can achieve during its presidency.

Relations between the US and South Africa have become increasingly strained since President Donald Trump took office, with Trump cutting aid to the country and accusing it of "unjust and immoral practices" against the white minority Afrikaner community. The US has also criticized South Africa's decision to file a genocide case against Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Despite these tensions, Ramaphosa remains confident that the diplomatic process can "iron out wrinkles that may have appeared in our relationship". Norway's foreign minister, Espen Barth Eide, has also expressed support for South Africa, stating that Norway does not share the same concerns as the US on the Expropriation Act and finds the explanation given about the need for redress sufficient.

The absence of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio from the G20 foreign ministers meeting has been seen as a significant blow to the meeting's effectiveness. However, Ramaphosa has downplayed the significance of Rubio's absence, stating that it is "not a train smash" and that the meeting can still achieve its goals without US participation. The meeting has brought together foreign ministers from around the world to discuss key issues such as global economic growth, trade, and international cooperation. The G20 presidency provides South Africa with an opportunity to advance the interests of developing nations and promote a more equitable global economy.

Some of the key points discussed at the meeting include: * The need for increased international cooperation to address global challenges such as climate change and economic inequality * The importance of promoting multilateralism and international law in resolving global conflicts * The role of the G20 in promoting global economic growth and development * The need for the G20 to be more representative of the interests of developing nations * The importance of addressing issues such as poverty, inequality, and access to education and healthcare. Overall, the G20 foreign ministers meeting has highlighted the need for increased international cooperation and multilateralism in addressing global challenges, and South Africa's leadership in promoting these values has been widely recognized.