G20
By Mpho Moloi
Amidst a backdrop of global turmoil, the third G20 Sherpa meeting convened at the picturesque Sun City Resort in South Africa’s North West province on Wednesday morning. With only five months until the G20 Leaders’ Summit in November, delegates from the world’s leading economies gathered to address pressing international crises and chart a course for sustainable development. Henrik Harboe, Norway’s Director of Development Policy, emphasized the critical role of this meeting in confronting conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as escalating tensions in the Middle East.
“We are halfway through this year, only five months away from the summit in November, so we have a lot of work to formulate, what are the G20 recommendations to deal with all these international crises and the big issues around development and economic stability in the world,” Harboe told SAnews. His remarks underscore the urgency of the moment as the G20 navigates a complex global landscape.
Addressing Geopolitical Tensions
While the G20 is traditionally an economic forum, the escalating geopolitical crises have taken center stage at this meeting. Harboe highlighted the necessity of these discussions, stating, “We’ll have a round [of discussions] about the G20’s role in the world in general. That’s very important. But then go straight into the geopolitical tensions.” He identified key conflicts driving the agenda, including “Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine,” “the horrible crisis in Gaza as a result of Israel’s response to the terrorist attack,” and “recent developments in the broader Middle East, with both Israel and the US bombing of Iran.”
Harboe expressed deep concern over these events, noting, “These events involve multiple violations of international law and the United Nations (UN) Charter.” He acknowledged the G20’s diverse membership, which brings a range of perspectives to the table, but stressed the inevitability of addressing these issues: “I mean, G20 is actually not about geopolitics, but we cannot avoid discussing geopolitical issues.”
South Africa’s G20 Sherpa, Zane Dangor, Director-General of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, reinforced this focus in his opening remarks. He announced that Foreign Ministers would engage in in-depth discussions on global geopolitical issues, emphasizing international law and mutual accountability. Dangor’s commitment to prioritizing substantive matters signals the G20’s intent to tackle these challenges head-on.
South Africa’s Historic Role
This meeting holds special significance as South Africa prepares to host the G20 Leaders’ Summit in November—the first time an African nation has held this honor. Harboe, representing Norway (a G20 guest country welcomed by South Africa in December 2023), praised this milestone. “South Africa is poised to make history as the first African nation to host the G20 Leaders’ Summit,” he said, highlighting the opportunity for the country to spotlight critical issues such as energy security, essential minerals, and sustainable development.
“All these issues are extremely important for Africa. So, we are very happy to see that and strongly support South Africa’s priority on these issues,” Harboe added. He views South Africa as a microcosm of global challenges, making its perspective invaluable. “South Africa has a huge poverty problem, job creation problem, inequality, and these are exactly the issues,” he explained. “So, I think what we discussed around the G20 table is relevant for the world and developing countries, but also very much for Africa, and South Africa.”
Harboe also drew attention to South Africa’s Just Energy Transition program, which he attended during his visit. He described it as a “valuable example for the world” on how to manage an energy transition fairly while creating job opportunities for young people, despite the country’s challenging energy situation.
A Forum for Global Solutions
The G20, representing over 85% of global GDP and two-thirds of the world’s population, is uniquely positioned to influence global outcomes. Its current presidency under South Africa, supported by a troika including Brazil (past host) and the United States (future host), ensures continuity in addressing both immediate crises and long-term goals like sustainable development and economic stability.
Harboe emphasized the G20’s broader mission: “The G20 focuses on sustainable development and a stable global economy to ensure growth for all countries.” As the Sherpa meeting progresses, delegates face the daunting task of formulating actionable recommendations for the November summit, balancing geopolitical realities with economic priorities.
A Lighter Moment Amid Serious Talks
Despite the weighty agenda, Harboe offered a lighthearted anecdote from his stay in Sun City. “I always love South Africa. It’s fantastic,” he told SAnews. “Since I’m from Norway, the cold weather, I don’t mind, the fresh morning like today was just nice. The only problem this morning was a monkey, taking my bread on the breakfast table,” he said with a chuckle. This human touch provided a brief respite from the high-stakes discussions.
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