French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that the G20 is “at risk” as the group struggles to address global crises, speaking at a summit in South Africa on Saturday that was boycotted by the United States.
Macron was among more than two dozen world leaders attending the Johannesburg summit, notable for the absence of US President Donald Trump, whose administration remains at odds with Pretoria on multiple issues.
“The G20 may be coming to the end of a cycle,” Macron told leaders gathered in Johannesburg.
He said the group is increasingly failing to find common ground on urgent geopolitical challenges, a situation made more difficult by the absence of key members.
“We are living in a moment of geopolitics in which we are struggling to resolve major crises together around this table, including with members who are not present today.”
Macron specifically criticised a new unilateral US plan to end the war in Ukraine, which he said accepts several of Russia’s hardline demands. European leaders met on the sidelines of the summit to formulate counter-proposals.
Reiterating Europe’s stance, he said: “There can be no peace in Ukraine without Ukrainians, without respect for their sovereignty.”
The G20—comprising 19 countries including Russia, plus the European Union and African Union—is also finding it increasingly difficult to agree on key principles such as humanitarian law and national sovereignty, Macron noted.
He warned that the group’s relevance could erode unless leaders recommit to shared priorities.
“The G20 is at risk if we do not collectively re-engage around a few priorities.”
Macron urged leaders to demonstrate tangible progress: “We must absolutely show that we have concrete actions to re-engage this forum and provide responses for our economies collectively around this table.”
AFP
