G20 Leaders' Summit begins: Erdoğan also in attendance

The 20th G20 Leaders' Summit, held this year in Johannesburg, South Africa, under the theme of Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability, has begun. Over the course of two days, leaders will address topics including the global economic outlook, development, energy supply security, the food crisis, and international stability.

The summit's agenda includes issues such as combating climate change, resilience against disasters, financing for a just transition to clean energy, and ensuring debt sustainability for low-income countries.

At this year's summit, South Africa aims to bring the primary concerns of the Global South to the forefront, such as climate finance, strengthening debt relief mechanisms, more equitable access to development investments, and retaining the value derived from critical minerals within local economies.

ERDOĞAN ATTENDS THE SUMMIT

President Erdoğan has traveled to South Africa for the G20 Summit. Upon arriving at the summit venue, Erdoğan will hold meetings with G20 leaders and representatives of international organizations, most notably the President of the Republic of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa. Erdoğan will also speak at sessions held under the theme of "Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability."

US DOES NOT ATTEND THE SUMMIT

US President Donald Trump had announced that he would not attend the summit, citing allegations of "race-based discrimination" against the white minority in South Africa, and had described the meeting being held in South Africa as a "total disgrace."

President Cyril Ramaphosa, who rejected the allegations of violence against whites, had stated that the boycott decision would be "the US's own loss."

According to reports in the South African press, the Trump administration is applying diplomatic pressure on the Pretoria government to prevent the publication of a joint final declaration at the end of the summit.

The Pretoria government, however, aims to publish a joint declaration at the end of the summit and is continuing its contacts to that end.

Meanwhile, at the summit where China will be represented by Premier Li Qiang and Russia by Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Maxim Oreshkin, Argentina and Mexico will be represented by their foreign ministers.

AFRICAN UNION A PERMANENT MEMBER FOR THE FIRST TIME

The first G20 Summit held on the continent is also notable for the African Union's (AU) participation as a permanent member for the first time.

This step is seen as an important turning point in Africa's path to becoming a stronger actor in global governance.

The AU will be represented at the summit by its Chairperson and President of the Union of the Comoros, Assoumani Azali.

News Source: 12punto