US absence raises alarm

G20: MOVE TO SNUB INDABA SHOWS 'SLIDE TOWARDS UNILATERALISM'

- Brian Sokutu

As the two-day G20 foreign ministers' summit wraps up in Johannesburg today, two leading international experts have expressed concern at the US having pulled out of the SA-hosted gathering.

With the US driving the global economy, University of South Africa professor of international law Andre Thomashausen and University of Johannesburg associate professor of political science and international relations David Monyae yesterday said the move by the Trump administration to snub the indaba demonstrated a slide towards unilateralism.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced his non-attendance, a stance also adopted by US Treasury's Scott Bessent, who said he will not be attending next week's meeting of G20 finance ministers, citing domestic obligations in Washington.

South Africa's G20 presidency, which commenced in December, will see the country host about 130 working group meetings and 23 meetings at ministerial level.

The year-long deliberations will culminate in a G20 leaders' summit in November.

SA's three priorities for the G20 presidency include: