South Africa and the European Union vowed to defend multilateralism on Thursday (20 November), ahead of the G20 summit, as they signed a partnership on critical minerals.
South Africa is hosting this year's G20 gathering amid a boycott by its most powerful member, although President Cyril Ramaphosa said the United States was now considering attending in some capacity.
Analysts see a U.S. absence or any obstructive move as an opportunity for South Africa to build closer ties to the European Union and China, its two largest trading partners.
While it seems increasingly unlikely that the meeting will culminate in a substantive declaration, the first G20 in Africa is a showcase for a continent that has fast-growing economies and vast mineral wealth.
"We are signing an unprecedented agreement," Ramaphosa said at a news conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa, after Ramaphosa's mines minister Gwede Mantashe signed the memorandum of understanding.
"We are no longer going to rely on extracting minerals only. We will want to extract those minerals, have them processed at the point of extraction ... so that South Africa begins to move up the value chain," Ramaphosa said.
EU leaders are scrambling to secure dozens of metals that are vital to the world's transition away from fossil fuels to renewable energy, for the revolution in computing and for defence, as it faces potentially damaging restrictions on supply from China, the world's main supplier of rare earths.
The EU's plans include stockpiling rare earths before rivals, including the United States, and developing a 9-million-euro joint purchasing mechanism.
"We need these inputs to power the clean-energy transition both here and in Europe. So the future of our economy depends on fair and reliable supply chains," von der Leyen said.
South African officials are hoping the summit can keep multilateralism alive in international affairs, even as U.S. President Donald Trump's administration rejects this form of diplomacy.
"We agreed to stand together in defence of democracy, in defence of multilateralism, human rights and the rule of law," Ramaphosa said, in sentiments echoed by his counterparts.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 2nd of January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Democrat Zohran Mamdani officially took office as New York City’s mayor on Thursday, beginning his term with a public swearing-in ceremony on the steps of City Hall.
Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of targeting civilians during New Year attacks, as intensified fighting coincided with U.S.-led efforts to push both sides towards ending the nearly four-year war.
Dozens of people are feared dead and around 100 others injured after an explosion tore through a crowded bar during New Year’s Eve celebrations at the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, authorities said.
At least 47 people were killed and 112 injured after a fire broke out at a crowded bar in the Swiss ski resort town of Crans-Montana during New Year’s Eve celebrations, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told Italian media on Thursday.
India has approved a major arms deal with Israel valued at approximately $8.7 billion, highlighting the deepening defence partnership between the two countries.
Russian athletes will not be allowed to represent their country at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics even if a peace deal is reached with Ukraine, International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry said in an interview with an Italian newspaper.
India and Pakistan on Thursday exchanged lists of nuclear facilities as well as civilian prisoners, under long-standing bilateral agreements, according to official statements from both countries.
The United Nations on Friday voiced serious concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Sudan, warning that rising violence is increasingly affecting civilians.
Ukrainian officials reported on Friday that thousands of children and their parents were evacuated from frontline areas in the Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions as Russian forces continued to advance.
Yemen’s southern separatists have announced plans to hold a referendum on independence from the north within two years, a move likely to further escalate tensions as Saudi-backed government forces seek to retake territory seized by the group last month.
A 6.5-magnitude earthquake has struck the southern state of Guerrero in Mexico.
Suhail Shaheen, Afghanistan’s ambassador in Doha, has again urged the United Nations to transfer Afghanistan’s seat at the UN to the Taliban-led administration, arguing the current arrangement no longer reflects realities in the country.
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