As the global community anticipates the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has emphasized the G20’s commitment to collaborating with the incoming leader.
Ramaphosa assured stakeholders about the proactive measures taken to mitigate the potential impacts of Trump’s America First policy during his second term, which commences on January 20. “I believe there will be adequate mechanisms established to ensure the G20 continues to operate effectively, promoting the interests of the global community. It is important to remember that through the G20, we are not prioritizing the needs of a single nation but rather advocating for the collective interests of people worldwide,” Ramaphosa stated.
Trump has signaled a confrontational approach to foreign policy, vowing to implement new tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada. Additionally, he has threatened to impose 100% tariffs on countries within the BRICS coalition, which includes Brazil, Russia, China, India, South Africa, and others.
In a post on the social media platform X, Trump warned these nations that they should “wave goodbye to selling into the wonderful U.S. Economy” if they attempt to shift away from the U.S. dollar for international transactions. On Tuesday, Ramaphosa mentioned that he had reached out to the president-elect to congratulate him on his electoral success and expressed hope that Trump would attend the G20 summit in South Africa scheduled for late 2025.
During my conversation with President Trump, I extended my congratulations and mentioned the necessity of his visit to South Africa. I formally invited him for a state visit, particularly in conjunction with his attendance at the G20 summit. We will certainly engage in discussions to determine the best way to facilitate this visit. We anticipate his participation, as the United States will be represented by its next president at the G20. I am eager to pass the leadership gavel to President Trump,” stated Ramaphosa.
South Africa took over the rotational presidency of the group of leading global economies from Brazil on Sunday and will transfer it to the United States at the conclusion of 2025.
