South Africa will be joining the G20 troika along with India and Brazil this year and it will take up the G20’s presidency in 2025. G20 troika is a three-member group of past, current and succeeding presidencies. G20 troika will comprise three emerging economies- India, Brazil and South Africa which have collaborated with each other through forums like IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa), BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) and BASIC (Brazil, South Africa, India and China).[i] Through the G20 presidency South Africa will seek to consolidate the voice of Global South at the multilateral bodies. According to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, “We must modernize our multilateral institutions, making them fit for the purpose and better equipped to deal with global and cross- generational challenges we face”[ii]. South Africa will be taking over G20’s presidency for the first time in 2025. Presently, South Africa is the only African state that is a member of G 20.
This brief focuses on South Africa’s foreign policy priorities for G20.
Overview of South Africa’s Foreign Policy
South Africa’s foreign policy has come a long way. In the last ten years, South Africa’s foreign policy has transitioned towards the establishment of new partnerships with Global South particularly with BRICS, IBSA, BASIC, IORA and G20. At the same time, it maintains cordial relations with the major powers such as the United States, the European Union, Russia, India and China.[iii] It needs to be noted that the narrowing economic gap between the developed and emerging economies has created opportunities for the emerging states like South Africa to maximize their global influence.
Regional and Continental Policy
South Africa is a major political force in the African Union and is a major contributor of Peace, Security and development of Africa. In 2020, under its Chairmanship of African Union, its three main priorities for the continent were, economic integration, women’s empowerment and good governance underpinned by the promotion of a peaceful and secure Africa.[iv] Besides, South Africa has strongly promoted African interests at the multilateral forums and regional organizations. For instance, during the fifth BRICS summit, which was held in Durban, South Africa has called for unlocking Africa’s potential by promoting BRICS- Africa cooperation on infrastructure. It played a significant role in supporting UN- AU partnership on peace and security. South Africa through IBSA Development Fund has promoted developmental projects in African states like Sudan, Burundi, Comoros, Sierra-Leone, Zambia, Cabo- Verde and Guinea Bissau.
As a key regional power in the Southern Africa, South Africa has always focused on stronger economic integration, closer collaboration, establishment of a free trade area, development of basic infrastructure, human resources as well as peace, security and good governance. It strives to achieve this through Southern African Development Community (SADC).
International Relations
Multilateralism is a key tenet of South Africa’s foreign policy. South Africa seeks to advance its multilateral policy through reform of the global governance structures and active participation in multilateral forums. For instance, South Africa has been the co- facilitator of UN Financing for Development Forum in 2017 and it focused on bringing openness to many of the debates of the forum. At the G20, South Africa has always opposed competitive devaluation of currencies and focused on ensuring that the development gap between the developed North and developing South must close.
South Africa through its partnership with the middle powers like Brazil, India, Russia and China, is trying to reform international order. At the bilateral level, South Africa has forged stronger political and economic ties with China and with Russia held the joint tri-lateral military and naval exercises. South Africa and Brazil are the regional leaders, both have cooperated with each other through institutions of global governance and provide mutual support to their candidacy in international organizations.
Relations with India
In 2023, South Africa and India mark the 30 years of their bilateral relationship. South Africa also views India as a reliable market for its agriculture products. India is the fourth largest trading partner of South Africa. South Africa sees India’s partnership with Africa in a positive light, with its focus on human resource development, agriculture and the IT sector. Both India and South Africa recognize that G 20 is a premium grouping for collaboration on global financial matters. As far as G 20 is concerned India has supported South African proposals for the Industrialization of Africa and other least developed countries, G20’s action plan for sustainable development, renewable energy, illicit financial flows and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). Thus, South Africa has found India as partner on the agenda on reformed multilateral order that reflects realities of the current times.
South Africa in G20: Priorities and Concerns
As far as G 20 is concerned, South Africa has given priority to the following issues-:
Permanent Membership of the African Union in the G20
Promotion of African interests and wider African representation at multilateral forums is a significant aspect of South Africa’s foreign policy. As far as G20 is concerned, during the Bali Summit in 2022, President Ramaphosa called for the African Union to be a permanent member of the grouping just as European Union is. According to an official statement made by President Cyril Ramaphosa, “South Africa will help table the framework for the African Union to officially join the club of rich nations. It is important that the collective voice of continent is represented within that platform. It is our sincere hope that this proposal will find favor and be endorsed by the member countries of the G20”.[v] The African Union comprises 54 diverse economies but collective African decisions are not really acknowledged by the international bodies. According to the South African Government, the African Union’s permanent membership of the G 20 grouping will allow the African states to have a major say on the issues which are of great importance for Africa.
Debt Restructuring
South Africa has placed emphasis for African development in the G20. South Africa at G 20 has called for the implementation of G20’s Industrialization of Africa initiative, which was adopted at the Hangzhou Summit held in 2016. South Africa has also called for the reforms of the G 20 debt framework. According to South Africa’s Finance Minister Enonch Godongwana, “We were proponents of debt relief but the design now we are not happy with. The mechanism does not make it attractive for vulnerable countries and needs to be restructured.”[vi] He further added that the debt risks of most of the African states are often burdened by budget deficits, interest rate hikes and heightened loan servicing costs.
Climate and Energy Crisis
Climate change and energy security is another significant area of concern for South Africa. According to G20 climate report, climate change will have devastating effect on South Africa’s coastal settlements, infrastructure and ecosystems.[vii] In order to mitigate the worsening effects of climate change, South Africa seeks to reduce carbon emissions given that South African economy is heavily dependent on coal mining. According to President Cyril Ramaphosa, “Climate change has increased the frequency and severity of droughts, floods, wildfires, disrupting agricultural production and supply. Industrialized countries need to demonstrate more ambitious climate action and must honor their commitment.”[viii] South Africa has called for Just Energy Transition at G20, which is a partnership to support South Africa’s phase-out of coal. Therefore, Just Energy Transition ensures that a transition to a low carbon economy does not adversely affect workers, communities and broader society, for while, South Africa will need around 85 billion US dollars over the next five years.
Food Security
Rising food price has been a major area of concern for South Africa. President Ramaphosa in the recent Bali Summit stated that “In Africa as in many parts of the developing world millions of people are going hungry. Global food insecurity is getting worse”[ix]. He was of the opinion that Ukraine crisis and pandemic have hiked global prices of wheat, sugar, edible oils and fertilizers. South Africa maintained that low- and middle-income countries are severely affected by food shortages, therefore, in order to ensure food security these countries need substantial financial assistance. These countries need to invest in climate smart agriculture and sustainable food production system. Since global food price stability is adversely affected by trade restrictions, South Africa called for implementing multilateral trading system that is rule based, transparent and predictable.
Health Task Force
South Africa welcomed the development of G20’s Joint - Finance Health Task Force which aims to strengthen global cooperation on the issues related to pandemic -prevention, preparedness and response. South Africa has called for regional organizations to be a part of the Task Force in order to expand the representation of the lower income countries of Global South. South Africa also supports the Pandemic fund and aims to contribute to the global health architecture. President Cyril Ramaphosa states that, “The Pandemic Fund will enable collaboration, priority setting, pooling of resources, technology transfers and research and development of medical countermeasures.”[x]
Conclusion
As far as South Africa’s G 20 priorities are concerned, permanent G20 membership of African Union will be the prima facie focus of South Africa. South Africa will try to ensure that G20 remains sensitive to the needs of the developing economies of Africa and that of Global South. G20’s presidency will provide South Africa a unique platform to place its agenda that will bring Global South at the center of development planning.
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*Dr. Gauri Narain Mathur is a Research Fellow at the Indian Council of World Affairs.
Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal
End Notes
[i] Tanu M. Goyal, ‘How the G20 Evolved
’, The Hindu, 30 December 2022, https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/how-the-g20-evolved/article66320361.ece
[ii] Nirendra Dev, “ G 20 An apt chance to push for Reforms in Multilateral Bodies”, Organizer Voice of the Nation, 19 January 2023, https://organiser.org/2023/01/19/104922/bharat/g20-an-apt-chance-to-push-for-reforms-in-multilateral-bodies/
[iii] Theo Neethling, “ South Africa’s Foreign Policy and BRICS formation: Reflections on the Quest for the Right Economic Diplomatic Strategy”, Insight of Africa, 10 January 2017, journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0975087816674580?journalCode=ioaa
[iv] Liesl Louw- Vaudran, “ South Africa’s Balancing Act in AU”, Africa Portal, 31 January 2020, https://www.africaportal.org/features/south-africas-balancing-act-au/
[v] “South Africa to Push for G20 seat for African Union”, AFP, 14 November 2022, https://www.jordannews.jo/Section-91/Africa/S-Africa-to-push-for-G20-seat-for-African-Union-24525
[vi] Prenisha Naidu, “ Africa’s only G-20 Member wants to reform its Debt Frame Work”, Bloomberg, 14 October 2022, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-10-14/africa-s-only-g-20-member-wants-to-reform-its-debt-framework#xj4y7vzkg
[vii] G 20 Climate Transperancy Report: G 20’s Response to Energy Crisis, 20 October 2022, https://www.climate-transparency.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/CT2022-Summary-report.pdf
[viii]“ President Cyril Ramaphosa concludes Participation on G 20’s Leaders Summit in Bali”, Republic of South Africa, 16 November 2022, https://www.gov.za/speeches/president-cyril-ramaphosa-concludes-participation-g20-leaders-summit-bali-16-nov-2022-0000
[ix] Ibid
[x] Ibid