G20 Summit Hailed Multilateralism Amid Fractured World Order and US Disengagement
Leaders from major economies gathered in South Africa over the weekend to discuss how the G20 can survive a world order increasingly fragmented by "go-it-alone" policies, wars, and deepening rivalries. The summit, boycotted by the United States, saw dozens of leaders from Europe, China, India, Japan, Turkey, Brazil, and Australia attend, highlighting the growing divisions between nations.
The Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney acknowledged that the world is experiencing a "rupture" rather than just a transition, with many countries retreating into "geopolitical blocs or the battlegrounds of protectionism." However, he stressed that "nostalgia is not a strategy," emphasizing the need for cooperation and collective action.
The G20's relevance was reaffirmed by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who said the summit showed multilateralism was still alive despite its challenges. In a joint statement, the leaders acknowledged rising geopolitical and geo-economic competition, heightened conflicts, deepening inequality, and global economic uncertainty, as well as fragmentation.
French President Emmanuel Macron urged the G20 to refocus on economic priorities, while acknowledging that "the centre of gravity in the global economy is shifting," with emerging economies and the global South playing a growing role. Carney agreed, saying that bringing emerging powers and developing countries into the G20 had helped neutralize the absence of the US.
The summit's declaration was issued despite Washington objecting to it being signed on behalf of the G20, citing the need for greater alignment with US policies. Oxfam charity welcomed South Africa's example in ensuring a unified statement defending multilateralism despite opposition.
As the G20 prepares for its next meeting under French presidency, Macron warned that "the G20 may be coming to the end of a cycle," and needs to refocus on strategic economic issues. However, Carney's comments suggested that the summit had provided a lifeline to multilateralism, breathing new life into it.
The significance of the summit was underscored by the absence of US President Donald Trump's administration, which cited South Africa's priorities as being at odds with its own policies. The US has been increasingly retreating from multilateral forums, stoking trade volatility and reversing commitments to fight global warming.
Leaders from major economies gathered in South Africa over the weekend to discuss how the G20 can survive a world order increasingly fragmented by "go-it-alone" policies, wars, and deepening rivalries. The summit, boycotted by the United States, saw dozens of leaders from Europe, China, India, Japan, Turkey, Brazil, and Australia attend, highlighting the growing divisions between nations.
The Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney acknowledged that the world is experiencing a "rupture" rather than just a transition, with many countries retreating into "geopolitical blocs or the battlegrounds of protectionism." However, he stressed that "nostalgia is not a strategy," emphasizing the need for cooperation and collective action.
The G20's relevance was reaffirmed by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who said the summit showed multilateralism was still alive despite its challenges. In a joint statement, the leaders acknowledged rising geopolitical and geo-economic competition, heightened conflicts, deepening inequality, and global economic uncertainty, as well as fragmentation.
French President Emmanuel Macron urged the G20 to refocus on economic priorities, while acknowledging that "the centre of gravity in the global economy is shifting," with emerging economies and the global South playing a growing role. Carney agreed, saying that bringing emerging powers and developing countries into the G20 had helped neutralize the absence of the US.
The summit's declaration was issued despite Washington objecting to it being signed on behalf of the G20, citing the need for greater alignment with US policies. Oxfam charity welcomed South Africa's example in ensuring a unified statement defending multilateralism despite opposition.
As the G20 prepares for its next meeting under French presidency, Macron warned that "the G20 may be coming to the end of a cycle," and needs to refocus on strategic economic issues. However, Carney's comments suggested that the summit had provided a lifeline to multilateralism, breathing new life into it.
The significance of the summit was underscored by the absence of US President Donald Trump's administration, which cited South Africa's priorities as being at odds with its own policies. The US has been increasingly retreating from multilateral forums, stoking trade volatility and reversing commitments to fight global warming.
it's like they're trying to prove that we don't need them or something... but seriously, who gets to dictate the terms of multilateralism? 
South Africa did a great job hosting and keeping the vibe neutral tho 
. gotta give props to Carney for holding it down and Macron for pushing for economic priorities 
. and can we talk about how the US is just abandoning global warming commitments like they're going out of style 
? what's next, gonna drop out of the Paris Agreement too? 
! like, super cool that all the major economies came together despite us pulling out 
it's a huge sign of hope for multilateralism 
especially with carney saying we need to bring emerging powers into the mix 
french prez emmanuel macron is also on point about refocusing on economic priorities 
let's keep the momentum going and make this summit a turning point for global cooperation 
. I mean, come on, the US is not even showing up? That's like a major player ghosting the table. And don't even get me started on the EU and China trying to fill the void, it's like they're doing a group hug for multilateralism 
.
. Protectionism, wars, rivalries... it's like the US is just walking away from its responsibilities. And the emerging economies? They're trying to make up for it, but can they really fill the shoes of a global leader? 
. Cyril Ramaphosa's right too, multilateralism might be struggling, but it's not dead yet. And let's give some props to South Africa for hosting this summit and showing the world what's possible when nations come together 
. It won't be easy, but if they can pull this off, it could just be the spark we need to get multilateralism back on track 
.
... but gotta wonder if they're just kicking the can down the road instead of actually solving any issues. I mean, multilateralism is all well and good, but what's being done to address the actual problems like climate change and economic inequality? It feels like a PR stunt to me 
. I'm not sure if this summit is really going to make a difference in the long run.
And while it's great that South Africa showed everyone how it's done with their unified statement on multilateralism... isn't that just a bit naive? We all know how hard it is to get nations to agree on anything these days. 
I mean, have you seen the state of global politics lately? It's like every country's just trying to look out for number one. And what about all these emerging economies and developing countries that are supposed to be the future? Are they really ready to take on the big boys just yet? 
so i think its kinda cool that the g20 had this summit in south africa despite the us not showing up 
what i'm worried about though is whether this will just be a short-term fix or if we'll see more fragmentation in the future 
G20 summit was all about survival 
. Multilateralism is still alive 
but it needs a wake-up call 
. Leaders acknowledged the challenges 
.
, not reactive 
. French President Macron's warning about the G20 ending a cycle 
is valid 
, but let's not give up on multilateralism 
and cooperation over protectionism 
is a great example of what can be achieved when leaders come together 
. Let's keep the momentum going 
and make the G20 more inclusive 
. BUT SERIOUSLY, IT'S SCARY TO THINK THAT WE'RE LIVING IN A WORLD WHERE TRADE VOLATILITY IS ON THE RISE AND GLOBAL WARMING IS STILL A THREAT 
. and don't even get me started on the us boycotting it - that just shows how out of touch they are with the rest of the world 
. it's not just about saving the planet, though (that's a given), but also about making sure everyone has access to resources and opportunities 
The problem is, we can't keep playing nice and hoping for the best. We need to be bold and take action! 
We need to work together as a global community, not just focus on our own interests 
It's not like other countries are just gonna sit back and let us dictate everything. We need more collaboration, not less. And it's pretty sad that Oxfam has to come out and defend multilateralism after the US does its best to undermine it. 
. Canada's PM Mark Carney makes a great point about "nostalgia not being a strategy" 
- we need to look forward and work together, not get stuck in the past 
.
. The G20 needs to stay focused and keep refocusing on strategic economic issues 
. Newsflash: it's not gonna be easy, and the world is still gonna be all over the place 
. I'm calling it now - this summit is just a bunch of empty words from countries trying to save their own skins 
. Meanwhile, the rest of us will just have to deal with the mess they make