EU extends ‘full support’ for South Africa's leadership of G20

JOHANNESBURG

European Council President Antonio Costa expressed the European Union’s full support Monday for South Africa’s leadership of the G20 during a phone call with President Cyril Ramaphosa.

“I highlighted the EU’s commitment to deepen ties with South Africa, as a reliable and predictable partner,’’ Costa said in remarks posted on X.

He said he looks forward to the South Africa -EU bilateral summit on March 13.

“I expressed the EU’s full support to South Africa’s leadership of the G20 and its ambition to strengthen multilateral cooperation and the Pact for the Future to address the most pressing global issues,’’ he added.

Ramaphosa said in a separate statement that he welcomes the engagement with Costa and his encouragement on the formation of South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU) as a demonstration of the country's strong commitment to democracy and the rule of law.

Last June, Ramaphosa’s African National Congress (ANC) party, together with nine others, agreed to form a GNU after the ANC did not secure a two thirds majority in May parliamentary elections.

Ramaphosa said South Africa and the EU share the same values of democracy, human rights, dignity and equality.

He also said he is looking forward to the South Africa-EU Summit to consolidate their strong bilateral partnership and discuss regional developments as well as continental and global issues.

“I also look forward to working together with the leadership of the EU in ensuring a successful G20 in line with our chosen theme and in tackling the most pressing global challenges,’’ he added.

South Africa officially assumed the one-year rotational G20 presidency last December, becoming the first African country to lead the group of powerful nations.

-US to skip summit

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week that he will not attend the G20 summit this month in Johannesburg, citing concerns over South Africa's policies.

Rubio's statement came days after US President Donald Trump threatened to cut foreign aid to South Africa over allegations of land confiscation and the mistreatment of “certain classes of people.”

Days later, Trump signed an executive order freezing funds to Pretoria over its land expropriation law and the country's role in the genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

The UN Secretary General’s Deputy Spokesman, Farhan Haq, told reporters Monday that “the secretary general believes that the G20 is an important group in terms of dealing with international crises. He has worked very well with them and he encourages all efforts to strengthen the work of this group and he doesn’t want anything detrimental to disrupt the group’s work. It’s important that it be able to work in a unified manner as much as possible,’’ he said.

China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that Foreign Minister Wang Yi will attend the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Johannesburg from Feb. 20- 21.