China, US go opposite ways

FOREIGN POLICY: AMERICA TURNS MORE ISOLATIONIST AS BEIJING UPS GLOBAL COOPERATION

- 

S Secretary of State Marco Rubio's recent refusal to attend the G20 Foreign Ministers' meeting in South Africa, citing SA's "Expropriation Bill," has reignited the debate about US foreign policy and its global implications.

This move, widely seen as another instance of US isolationism, raises crucial questions about the future of international cooperation and the evolving roles of major powers.

The US has increasingly pursued a foreign policy characterized by unilateralism and a reluctance to fully engage with the international community.

This trend is evident in a pattern of withdrawing from international agreements, including the Paris Agreement, the Iran nuclear deal, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

The US often acts in the belief that it can influence other countries through sanctions and pressure. However, this approach has frequently proven counterproductive, leading even its allies to express concern.

The EU's pursuit of "strategic autonomy," the expansion of BRICS and the search for alternative partnerships suggest a growing desire among nations to find solutions outside US influence.

South Africa's "Expropriation Bill" is a domestic matter and like all nations, SA has the right to formulate policies that align with its specific circumstances.