Ramaphosa Capitalizes on Trump’s Absence at G-20 Leaders’ Summit in South Africa

Welcome back to the Global Digest, where we look at it South Africaambitions in G20 leaders summit, we Classification of terrorism A Venezuelan Cartel, and a new peace proposal for Russia and Ukraine war.

It is marked absent

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa defended multilateralism at the G20 leaders’ summit in Johannesburg this weekend. However, the notable absence of one of the bloc’s biggest powers – coupled with a series of broken traditions in response – led to what some experts described as a symbolic diplomatic victory but a weak final declaration.

US President Donald Trump boycotted the summit over unsubstantiated allegations of “white genocide” in South Africa, accusing Pretoria of discriminating against white Africans and even allowing them to be killed. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also denounced this year’s G20 theme, “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability,” because it promotes what he called “diversity, equality, and inclusion” and climate change initiatives.

Rather than submit to the constraints of Washington’s empty chair, Ramaphosa took advantage of the US absence to focus on global cooperation and African interests.

“The G20 must send a clear message that the world can move forward with or without the United States,” South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said. “We will mark them absent and continue working.”

Specifically, Ramaphosa broke with tradition by issuing the bloc leaders’ final 122-point declaration at the beginning of the summit rather than at its end. The statement addressed several key concerns for all parties involved, such as Africa’s debt crisis, vital access to minerals, and illicit financial flows. But it also highlighted several terms that US officials had opposed before the conference, including “just energy transition,” “climate change,” and “gender equality.”

According to Ramaphosa, the declaration received unanimous support from all delegations present. It is worth noting that this excluded the United States, but it also ignored the protests of Argentina, which was present and sided with Washington’s demands. Buenos Aires repeatedly backed Trump’s proposals after the White House granted Argentina a massive $40 billion bailout announced last month.

However, experts warn that the declaration may have little impact, because the text is non-binding, and the United States, with its huge economy, could still greatly influence the very institutions the declaration addresses, such as the International Monetary Fund.

Much of the progress made during last weekend’s summit could be reversed next year, when the United States hosts the gathering. The White House accused South Africa of using its time in the EU’s rotating presidency as a weapon to undermine consensus and pledged to restore the “legitimacy” of the conference once the United States assumes that role, which is scheduled to happen next week. Analysts expect that Washington will narrow the scope of the G20 agenda next year to be limited to the Leaders’ Summit and the Financial Forum only, and cancel other meetings on energy, health and the environment.

But that did not prevent South Africa from having the last laugh. Just two days before the summit, Trump requested that an American delegation be sent to Johannesburg to attend the handover ceremony for the rotating presidency. However, Ramaphosa refused to present the gavel to a lower-ranking US official, instead saying that Washington representatives could come to the South African Foreign Ministry on Monday to hand over power.

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The world this week

Tuesday 25 November: Leaders of the pro-Ukrainian “Coalition of the Willing” group of countries are meeting online.

The two-day EU-AU summit concluded in Angola.

Thursday 27 November: Kyrgyzstan hosts leaders from the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines holds legislative elections.

Friday 28 November: The International Criminal Court issues a ruling in the appeal case brought by former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

Sunday 30 November: Honduras holds general elections.

Kyrgyzstan holds early parliamentary elections.

Monday 1 December: Saint Lucia holds general elections.

What we follow

Naming terrorism. The United States officially designated Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization on Monday as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to put pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The White House alleges that the Cartel de los Soles runs drug trafficking operations in the United States and Europe alongside Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua cartel, and Maduro allegedly supervises the group personally.

However, experts say the Cartel de los Solis (or Sun Cartel) is not actually a cartel but rather a “system of widespread corruption” within the Venezuelan government and security forces. It is a term originally coined by Venezuelans to refer to government officials involved in corruption; The name appeared in the 1990s, when Venezuelan military commanders, who wore sun armbands, were investigated for drug trafficking.

“Venezuela categorically, resolutely and absolutely rejects this ridiculous new fabrication,” Venezuelan Foreign Minister Ivan Gil wrote on Telegram, describing the group as “non-existent.” Gil emphasized that this designation is a way to justify US efforts at regime change in Caracas, which have included increased US military deployment in the Caribbean and repeated US attacks on Venezuelan boats that Washington claims are used for drug smuggling. Washington is also reportedly preparing to launch a new phase of operations related to Venezuela in the coming days, according to reports from Reuters on Saturday.

A new peace proposal. The United States and Ukraine drafted a new 19-point peace plan on Monday in an attempt to end the Russia-Ukraine war, a major revision to the previous 28-point proposal that Washington secretly worked with Moscow to prepare. According to First Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Sergei Kyslytsya, senior US and Ukrainian officials reached an agreement on several issues after hours of negotiations. However, they imposed restrictions on more controversial topics — including potential territorial swaps, U.S. security guarantees, and NATO involvement — for Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss later.

Under the original 28-point text, Russia would have been given effective control over the Donbass region of Ukraine, and Kiev would have been forced to limit the size and capabilities of its army. In return, the United States would have provided security guarantees to Ukraine and the rest of Europe. Such an agreement would have dealt a strong blow to Zelensky, who has repeatedly refused to make any territorial concessions.

“There are very few things left from the original,” Kislitsia told the newspaper. Financial Times. According to German Foreign Minister Johan Wadevoll, “all issues relating to Europe, including those relating to NATO, have been omitted” from the original plan.

On Monday, Zelensky demanded that Moscow pay the full costs of war reconstruction using frozen Russian assets. The new draft agreement will now be put under further review as Trump seeks to advance talks with the Russian delegation.

Assassination of Hezbollah leader. An Israeli airstrike killed Hezbollah’s senior military commander, Ali al-Tabtabai, in Beirut on Sunday, despite Israel reaching a ceasefire agreement with the Iran-backed militant group last November. Mahmoud Qamati, a Hezbollah official, said the Israeli attack crossed a “red line,” adding that the senior leadership would decide whether and how the group would respond. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, the raid killed at least five people and injured 28 others.

Israel claimed that Al-Tabtabai “commanded most of Hezbollah’s units and worked hard to bring them back to readiness for war with Israel,” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying he would not allow the group to rebuild its forces in southern Lebanon. Since the US-brokered truce took effect, Israel has pressured the Lebanese government to be more aggressive in confiscating unauthorized weapons in the country, including those held by Hezbollah.

Sunday’s strike was the first Israeli attack on the southern suburb of Beirut in months. In response, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun urged foreign leaders to help stop Israel’s ceasefire violations. Both sides accused each other of violating the agreement.

Odds and Ends

Readers who suffer from claustrophobia may want to skip this section. A Thai woman shocked mourners on Sunday when a 65-year-old woman suddenly regained consciousness from inside her coffin. According to the woman’s brother, his sister had been bedridden for two years and appeared to have stopped breathing in recent days. But during the four-hour funeral procession, a faint knock was heard from inside the coffin. “I was a little surprised, so I asked them to open the coffin, and everyone was amazed,” he said. “I saw her open her eyes slightly and knock on the side of the coffin. She must have been knocking on the door for some time.”