Latest news with #Lamola
The Citizen
a day ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
US apologised for not attending G20 Sherpa meeting, Lamola says
The meeting discussed the unprecedented global turmoil, both geopolitically and economically. International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola says the United States sent a letter of apology stating that it would not be attending the three-day G20 Sherpa meeting. The meeting, which started on Wednesday in Sun City, North West, discussed the unprecedented global turmoil, both geopolitically and economically. US absent Lamola stated the US could not attend the meeting due to the concurrent North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) Summit in The Hague, which was attended by US President Donald Trump. 'We take that as an apology. We are not concerned. We think that the G20 should be able to function with all the member states that are part of the G20, and they have provided us with an apology. So, we take it at face value, and we think we will be able to come out with very progressive and ambitious outcomes of this meeting.' ALSO READ: Trump changes tune and 'agrees' to participate in G20 Summit, Ramaphosa says Global turmoil Lamola commended the work of the Sherpa for the continuous engagement on various issues, highlighting the growing geopolitical conflict in the world. 'This important meeting, which comes at the midpoint of South Africa's historic G20 Presidency, also coincides with unprecedented global turmoil both geopolitically and geoeconomically'. Lamola said that according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's States of Fragility 2025 Assessment, the number of armed conflicts is at its highest level since the Cold War, with state-based conflicts including proxy wars, civil wars, and coups, ranking as the top global risk for 2025. 'State rivalries are fuelling fragmentation, with economic decoupling, and proxy conflicts undermining global stability. These international competition dynamics are exacerbating fragility in vulnerable regions, while also weakening multilateral institutions that underpin the rules-based international order'. Picture: Dirco SA anti-war Lamola stressed South Africa has adopted an anti-war stance. Following last week's US military strikes in Iran, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said, 'At this perilous hour, it is critical to avoid a spiral of chaos'. 'We understood the United Nations' promise 80 years ago: collective security over coercion, the extinguishing of the law of the jungle! Alas, we find ourselves in an evolving global disorder that brings with it many perils for the weak and vulnerable, Lamola said. 'As South Africa, we have adopted an anti-war stance. This is because we know too well that war offers no victors, only victims. Double standards in diplomacy and the paralysis at the UN Security Council have crippled conflict resolution, mediation and peace efforts. These systemic challenges must be addressed to reclaim a global rationality that builds on stability, peace, certainty and sustainability'. Lamola said the world needs more diplomacy and peace, with the UN at its pinnacle. ALSO READ: Ramaphosa calls for dialogue to end Israel-Iran conflict Digital economy The minister also emphasised the digital economy, which undoubtedly continues to develop at a rapid pace, presenting both unprecedented opportunities and deepening inequalities across the globe. 'We must act with purpose to support digital transformation, equitable access to data and infrastructure, and support innovation with a human-centric focus. 'That said, cyber and hybrid warfare coupled with AI-driven threats create asymmetric risks, accelerating conflict escalation and reducing diplomatic windows of opportunity to act,' Lamola said. G20 urged to tackle global challenges Lamola said the G20 can lead in a moment of crisis and can help address the weaknesses of the multilateral system. 'The G20 can ensure that our collective humanity is not abandoned. Our deliberations can no longer be hollow; our shared prosperity now more than ever demands collaboration that pursues solutions that address some of the most pressing global challenges confronting humanity and impacting global growth and development. Lamola said the G20 is 'a persuasive body which holds great influence in the world'. ALSO READ: WATCH G20: Ramaphosa promises to carry on 'good work' done by Brazil
Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
G20 president warns global turmoil hurts poorer nations
SUN CITY (South Africa): South Africa's Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola warned Thursday that growing global fragmentation was fuelling unprecedented turmoil and disproportionately harming poorer nations, urging a united G20 response. The remarks come as international cooperation is under increasing strain, with multiple devastating conflicts and humanitarian crises. 'State rivalries are fuelling fragmentation, with economic decoupling, and proxy conflicts undermining global stability,' Lamola said during a meeting of G20 diplomats. The so-called sherpas gathered at a resort around 185 kilometres (115 miles) northwest of Johannesburg in preparation for the summit of the world's major economies under South Africa's presidency in November. Speaking to AFP, Lamola said he was 'hopeful that the declaration will persuade and help to encourage the message of peace, good friendly neighbours and the language of de-escalation.' The three days-long talks are expected to set the tone of the summit in November. Resolutions taken by the bloc are non-binding in nature and have often failed to reach a consensus on a range of issues including its core finance remit. The bloc's richest member — the United States — which is due to take over the presidency did not send a representative to the talks. In February, Washington also skipped a meeting of foreign ministers in South Africa, suggesting relations between the two countries remain fraught. South Africa, the first African nation to hold the rotating year-long G20 presidency, aims to champion Global South priorities, including boosting climate resilience and tackling poor countries' debt. Russia's invasion of Ukraine dominated discussions at the last G20 summit in Brazil as well as calls for ceasefires in both Gaza and Lebanon. The G20 includes G7 nations, the European Union and African Union as well as Russia, China, Brazil, Australia and Saudi Arabia, among other countries. The bloc account for more than 80 percent of the world's gross domestic product.
France 24
2 days ago
- Business
- France 24
G20 president S.Africa warns global turmoil hurts poorer nations
Ronald Lamola made the remarks to dozens of diplomats from the G20 group of the world's leading economies meeting to prepare for its summit in November under South Africa's presidency. "State rivalries are fuelling fragmentation, with economic decoupling, and proxy conflicts undermining global stability," the foreign minister said, referring to multiple major conflicts and humanitarian crises under way. This was "exacerbating fragility in vulnerable regions while also weakening multilateral institutions that underpin the rules-based international order," he said. South Africa is the first African nation to hold the rotating year-long presidency of the group made up of 19 countries plus the European Union and the African Union that together represent around two-thirds of the world's population and 80 percent of its GDP. Pretoria wants to use its presidency to champion Global South priorities, including boosting climate resilience and tackling poor countries' debt, before handing the baton to the United States next year. Speaking to AFP, Lamola said he was hopeful that the talks at the Sun City resort 185 kilometres (115 miles) northwest of Johannesburg "will persuade and help to encourage the message of peace, good friendly neighbours and the language of de-escalation." Resolutions taken by the bloc are non-binding in nature and the diverse grouping has often failed to reach a consensus. However, many members hold seats on the UN Security Council or are involved in conflict resolution efforts, making the G20 "an important platform" and "very persuasive", Lamola told reporters. US apology Lamola said he was not concerned that the United States -- the bloc's richest member -- did not send a representative to Sun City. "We have received their letter of apology, in which they stated their reasons," he said. "We believe that the G20 can proceed with or without the US, but they are important in terms of participation." Relations between South Africa and the United States plummeted this year over a range of international and domestic policies and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio skipped the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Cape Town in February. Keen to salvage his summit, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa tried at talks with Donald Trump in May to have the US leader commit to attend the Johannesburg meeting. The Russian representative at the Sun City, Svetlana Lukash, was non-committal about the attendance of President Vladimir Putin, saying only he will take part "in some way". Putin missed the previous G20 summits in India and Brazil, avoiding possible political opprobrium and any risk of criminal detention under an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant. Lukash said G20 members remained divided over Russia's war in Ukraine but were less fixated on the conflict than they were when it started in 2022. The war has split the G20, with Western countries condemning the invasion and pouring military and financial aid into Ukraine, while Russia has courted support from emerging powers such as Brazil, China and India. "Most of the world closed their eyes on numerous conflicts around the world due to dominance of Western views," she said. But more countries now recognised the "double standards", Lukash said.
Int'l Business Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
G20 President S.Africa Warns Global Turmoil Hurts Poorer Nations
Global fragmentation is fuelling unprecedented turmoil and disproportionately harming poorer nations, South Africa's foreign minister warned Thursday, urging a united G20 response for peace. Ronald Lamola made the remarks to dozens of diplomats from the G20 group of the world's leading economies meeting to prepare for its summit in November under South Africa's presidency. "State rivalries are fuelling fragmentation, with economic decoupling, and proxy conflicts undermining global stability," the foreign minister said, referring to multiple major conflicts and humanitarian crises under way. This was "exacerbating fragility in vulnerable regions while also weakening multilateral institutions that underpin the rules-based international order," he said. South Africa is the first African nation to hold the rotating year-long presidency of the group made up of 19 countries plus the European Union and the African Union that together represent around two-thirds of the world's population and 80 percent of its GDP. Pretoria wants to use its presidency to champion Global South priorities, including boosting climate resilience and tackling poor countries' debt, before handing the baton to the United States next year. Speaking to AFP, Lamola said he was hopeful that the talks at the Sun City resort 185 kilometres (115 miles) northwest of Johannesburg "will persuade and help to encourage the message of peace, good friendly neighbours and the language of de-escalation." Resolutions taken by the bloc are non-binding in nature and the diverse grouping has often failed to reach a consensus. However, many members hold seats on the UN Security Council or are involved in conflict resolution efforts, making the G20 "an important platform" and "very persuasive", Lamola told reporters. Lamola said he was not concerned that the United States -- the bloc's richest member -- did not send a representative to Sun City. "We have received their letter of apology, in which they stated their reasons," he said. "We believe that the G20 can proceed with or without the US, but they are important in terms of participation." Relations between South Africa and the United States plummeted this year over a range of international and domestic policies and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio skipped the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Cape Town in February. Keen to salvage his summit, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa tried at talks with Donald Trump in May to have the US leader commit to attend the Johannesburg meeting. The Russian representative at the Sun City, Svetlana Lukash, was non-committal about the attendance of President Vladimir Putin, saying only he will take part "in some way". Putin missed the previous G20 summits in India and Brazil, avoiding possible political opprobrium and any risk of criminal detention under an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant. Lukash said G20 members remained divided over Russia's war in Ukraine but were less fixated on the conflict than they were when it started in 2022. The war has split the G20, with Western countries condemning the invasion and pouring military and financial aid into Ukraine, while Russia has courted support from emerging powers such as Brazil, China and India. "Most of the world closed their eyes on numerous conflicts around the world due to dominance of Western views," she said. But more countries now recognised the "double standards", Lukash said.
eNCA
2 days ago
- Politics
- eNCA
G20 president SA warns global turmoil hurts poorer nations
JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola warned Thursday that growing global fragmentation was fuelling unprecedented turmoil and disproportionately harming poorer nations, urging a united G20 response. WATCH: Discussion | Flurry of engagement during SA's G20 presidency The remarks come as international cooperation is under increasing strain, with multiple devastating conflicts and humanitarian crises. "State rivalries are fuelling fragmentation, with economic decoupling, and proxy conflicts undermining global stability," Lamola said during a meeting of G20 diplomats. The so-called sherpas gathered at a resort around 185 kilometres northwest of Johannesburg in preparation for the summit of the world's major economies under South Africa's presidency in November. Speaking to AFP, Lamola said he was "hopeful that the declaration will persuade and help to encourage the message of peace, good friendly neighbours and the language of de-escalation." The three days-long talks are expected to set the tone of the summit in November. Resolutions taken by the bloc are non-binding in nature and have often failed to reach a consensus on a range of issues including its core finance remit. The bloc's richest member -- the United States -- which is due to take over the presidency did not send a representative to the talks. In February, Washington also skipped a meeting of foreign ministers in South Africa, suggesting relations between the two countries remain fraught. South Africa, the first African nation to hold the rotating year-long G20 presidency, aims to champion Global South priorities, including boosting climate resilience and tackling poor countries' debt. Russia's invasion of Ukraine dominated discussions at the last G20 summit in Brazil as well as calls for ceasefires in both Gaza and Lebanon. The G20 includes G7 nations, the European Union and African Union as well as Russia, China, Brazil, Australia and Saudi Arabia, among other countries.
