G20 Leaders' Summit | We are seeing the Global South assert itself: Dr Imraan Buccus

The article is a transcript of an interview on a South African news show with Dr. Imran Bakus, a political analyst, discussing the first day of the G20 Leaders' Summit hosted by South Africa in Nazareth—the first time an African nation has hosted the event. Despite initial skepticism due to geopolitical tensions, including the US absence, South Africa-US relations, ICJ cases, Russia-Ukraine conflict, and critical minerals disputes, the summit achieved an unexpected early consensus declaration, announced surprisingly during President Ramaphosa's opening address. This success is viewed as a triumph for the Global South, with South Africa asserting its influence by framing human rights as resistance against power imbalances, holding firm against US threats (including from Trump). Leaders from countries like Turkey highlighted broader issues beyond trade, such as Middle East conflicts and Gaza, signaling a shift where the Global South—through forums like BRICS and AU—challenges the Global North's moral authority and pushes for equity, debt relief, sustainability, and inequality reduction. While the Global South shows fractures, areas of consensus emerged, fostering solidarity. However, implications include potential disruptions next year under a US-hosted G20 (possibly under Trump), which may prioritize Global North concerns and sideline southern issues, though continuity from Brazil's prior hosting offers some hope. Geopolitically, US isolationism, tariffs, and hardball tactics inadvertently amplified support for South Africa from other nations, including some Global North allies, enhancing South Africa's role as a voice for Africa in international forums like SADC, AU, G20, and BRICS, punching above its weight to amplify African perspectives.