Germany’s Foreign Minister, Johann Wadephul, on Thursday criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement regarding the intention to exclude South Africa from the upcoming G20 summit in Miami, calling it “in no one’s interest”. Wadephul spoke to students at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.
He described South Africa as an “indispensable member of the G20”. The minister noted that the country’s significance is underscored by the fact that last year’s G20 summit took place in Johannesburg. Wadephul asserted that excluding South Africa would eliminate an important African voice and a regional economic and political power. “Especially in a period of growing global economic uncertainty, we need more cooperation, not less,” he added.
Despite differences on geopolitical issues
The U.S. President announced in a social media post last November that South Africa would not be invited to the next G20 meeting. During his speech, Wadephul also highlighted the desire to strengthen relations with South Africa, despite differences on key geopolitical issues, including the war between Russia and Ukraine, the conflict in Gaza, and relations with China. As a member of BRICS, South Africa traditionally maintains close ties with Moscow and Beijing.
“On some contentious issues, we can agree to disagree,” he said, adding: “And at the same time continue to cooperate. The main thing is that we share the same international principles.”
Threats from Russia and dependence on China
Wadephul also stated that Russia “continues to pose an existential threat to our security,” which he argued is evidenced by the deployment of Iskander ballistic missiles in Kaliningrad, which “would take only a few minutes to reach Berlin.”
Regarding China, he emphasized that both Germany and South Africa need to cooperate more closely, as they are both “too dependent on supply chains coming from one country. We are too dependent on one country as the most important market.”
Source: Politico
