Scott Bessent, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, continues to be absent from the G-20 financial conference in South Africa for the second time this year.
The week-long conference is held at the Zimbali resort near Durban. Mr. Bessent's absence reflects a wave of boycotts from senior U.S. officials, initiated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio due to South Africa's controversial theme 'Unity, Equality, and Sustainable Development.'
MAIN CONTENT
The G-20 conference in South Africa is dominated by trade and political tensions initiated by the U.S.
South Africa strives to focus on the priorities of emerging economies and sustainable development but is ignored by the U.S.
The absence of a U.S. representative weakens the role and influence of the U.S. in this important forum.
Why was Scott Bessent absent from the G-20 South Africa conference?
Scott Bessent continues to miss the G-20 conference in South Africa, marking the second time this year he has missed this important event. His absence occurs amidst rising U.S.-South Africa diplomatic tensions, related to policies and viewpoints on development and support for emerging economies.
This event is especially significant as South Africa is the first African country to host the G-20, aiming to prioritize debt reduction and sustainable development but complicated by the U.S.
How has Donald Trump affected the G-20 conference in South Africa?
President Donald Trump escalated trade tensions by threatening to impose a 10% tariff on BRICS countries and up to 50% on Brazil. He labeled these countries as 'anti-U.S.,' turning a conference that was expected to be a global cooperation forum into a tense event.
The confrontation between Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa occurred publicly and caused discord, as Trump accused the South African government of ignoring 'white farmer genocide' – an accusation that has been dismissed by many experts. Ramaphosa emphasized the importance of recognizing the emergence of new power centers in the world.
'U.S. leaders need to better understand the emergence of new global power centers.'
Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, 7/2024
How does the absence of the United States affect its role at the G-20?
With no Scott Bessent representative, the position of the U.S. Treasury at the G-20 conference remains vacant, diminishing its influence in important discussions. This is very detrimental to South Africa, a country that wants to focus on promoting African development and sustainable debt policies.
Ronald Lamola, South African Minister of International Relations, emphasized that Africa's development needs to remain at the center of the forum, especially in light of the increasing debt burden challenges. However, this plan is being overshadowed by Washington's political and trade pressure actions.
'The role of the U.S. is currently one of a disruptive force in international governance, weakening global cooperation efforts.'
Sanusha Naidu, Expert at the Pretoria Global Dialogue Institute, 7/2024
International reaction to the attitude and policies of the U.S. at the G-20 South Africa
Contrary to the U.S.'s indifference, the European Union gradually supports South Africa's goals in the G-20. In July 2024, the EU held a joint conference with South Africa for the first time since 2018, showing signs of increased cooperation despite previous controversies.
Expert Louw Nel from Oxford Economics Africa predicts that multilateral organizations like the G-20 will continue to exist and develop despite the current instability due to the Trump administration's policies. However, in the short term, the absence and unstable policies of the U.S. continue to disrupt the conference process.
Key Features of U.S. Policy South Africa & EU Policy Participation in conference Absent/leader not present Active participation, leading priority on African development Focus on the theme Trade war, tariff disputes Debt reduction, sustainable development, supporting emerging economies Impact Disrupting and undermining the credibility of the conference Promoting multilateral cooperation and improving international relations
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Scott Bessent not participate in the G-20 South Africa conference? He was absent due to political tensions and policies incompatible with the theme proposed by South Africa, according to reports from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. How has U.S. trade policy affected the G-20? The U.S. threatened to impose tariffs on BRICS countries, causing division and undermining the cooperative atmosphere at this conference. What does South Africa hope to achieve by hosting the G-20? South Africa focuses on promoting sustainable debt and economic development of emerging countries, especially Africa, according to President Ramaphosa's sharing. How did the EU react to tensions at the G-20? The EU has strengthened cooperation with South Africa, showing support for sustainable development and regional stability goals. How does this event affect the role of the U.S. in multilateral forums? Avoidance and instability policies undermine U.S. influence, causing distrust from allies and international partners.
Source: https://tintucbitcoin.com/g-20-my-vang-hop-anh-huong-dam-phan/
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