G20 Meeting in South Africa Highlights Deep Divisions Among Major Economies

Key finance ministers and officials from major economies skip the summit, underscoring tensions over climate policy, debt relief, and geopolitical disputes.

• South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa opened the G20 finance meeting by warning that the erosion of multilateralism threatens global growth and stability.
• The absence of key figures, including the U.S. Treasury Secretary and representatives from Brazil, China, and Japan, highlighted fractures within the group.
• Ramaphosa emphasized the need for international cooperation to address climate change, rising debt burdens, and inequality, particularly in poorer nations disproportionately affected by natural disasters.
• The U.S. absence, attributed to tensions over South Africa's ties to Russia and China and domestic criticisms of its land reform policies, raised questions about the G20's relevance.
• Some analysts see an opportunity for South Africa to assert leadership on global issues like climate finance and debt reform, despite the lack of consensus among member nations.

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