G20 Summit 2025: What to Expect from South Africa’s Big Moment

 

Get ready for a major global event! In November 2025, leaders from the world’s most powerful countries will gather in Johannesburg, South Africa, for the annual G20 Summit. This is a huge deal, marking the first time a G20 summit has been held in Johannesburg and on the African continent.

 

What is the G20?

 

The G20, or Group of Twenty, is like a club for the world’s leading economies. It includes 19 countries plus the European Union. Together, these members represent a large portion of the world’s population and economy. The G20 provides a forum for these countries to discuss and coordinate on important global issues, especially those related to the economy and finance.

 

Why Johannesburg?

 

South Africa is taking over the G20 presidency from December 1, 2024, to November 2025. This means they get to set the agenda and host the big summit in Johannesburg. This is a fantastic opportunity for South Africa to shine on the world stage and bring attention to the issues facing Africa and the developing world. The summit itself, a meeting of heads of state and government, will be held from November 22 to 23, 2025. The South African government has budgeted R691 million for the event.

 

South Africa’s Goals as President

 

South Africa has big plans for its time leading the G20. The country wants to ensure that the G20 is progressive, focused on people, development-oriented, and ready to find solutions to global problems. South Africa’s approach to the G20 is guided by its foreign policy which focuses on:

 

* National Interests: What’s best for South Africa.

* The African Agenda: Prioritizing the needs and development of the African continent.

* South-South Cooperation: Working with other developing countries.

* Multilateralism: Believing in cooperation and collaboration between many countries.

 

With the UN’s Agenda 2030 deadline approaching, there’s a sense of urgency to make real progress on global challenges.

 

The Summit’s Theme: Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability

 

South Africa has chosen “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability” as the theme for the 2025 G20 Summit. This theme highlights the country’s commitment to building on the work of previous G20 presidencies from countries in the Global South (Indonesia, India and Brazil) and further advancing the development agenda.

 

Here’s what that theme means in practice:

 

Solidarity: Recognizing that we’re all connected and need to work together to solve global problems. What affects one nation affects all nations.

Equality: Ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background or where they live, has a fair chance to succeed.

Sustainability: Meeting today’s needs without making life harder for future generations.

 

Key Priorities for the Summit

 

South Africa plans to use its G20 presidency to push for support for developing economies, especially in Africa. President Cyril Ramaphosa has emphasized that “we will put Africa’s development at the top of the agenda when we host the G20 in 2025.”

 

The main priorities for the summit will be:

 

1. Inclusive Economic Growth, Industrialization, Employment and Reducing Inequality: Making sure that economic growth benefits everyone, creating jobs, and reducing the gap between rich and poor.

2. Food Security: Ensuring that everyone has access to enough food.

3. Artificial Intelligence and Innovation for Sustainable Development: Using new technologies to help solve problems and build a more sustainable future.

 

These priorities will be addressed through different working groups and discussions throughout the year.

 

Who Will Be There?

 

The G20 Summit is a gathering of world leaders. Here are some of the leaders expected to attend:

 

From G20 Member Countries:

Argentina: Javier Milei, President

Brazil: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President

China: Xi Jinping, President

France: Emmanuel Macron, President

India: Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

Indonesia: Prabowo Subianto, President

Italy: Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister

Japan: Shigeru Ishiba, Prime Minister

Mexico: Claudia Sheinbaum, President

Russia: Vladimir Putin, President

Saudi Arabia: Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister

South Africa: Cyril Ramaphosa, President (Host)

Turkey: Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President

United States: Donald Trump, President

European Union: Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission; Antonio Costa, President of the European Council

African Union: João Lourenço, Chairperson of the African Union

 

Note: Some leaders may change depending on election results in their countries.

Invited Guests:

Several other countries are also invited, including Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates.

Invited Organizations:

Leaders from many international organizations will also be present, such as the African Continental Free Trade Area, African Development Bank, United Nations, World Bank, World Health Organization, and World Trade Organization.

 

Why This Summit Matters

 

The 2025 G20 Johannesburg Summit is important for several reasons:

 

Africa’s Voice: It gives Africa a chance to shape the global agenda and highlight its unique challenges and opportunities.

Developing World Focus: It provides a platform to advocate for the needs of developing countries.

Global Cooperation: It brings together world leaders to address pressing issues like economic growth, food security, and sustainable development.

 

What to Watch For

 

As the summit approaches, keep an eye on these key areas:

 

South Africa’s priorities: How will South Africa steer the G20 towards its goals of solidarity, equality, and sustainability?

Discussions on key issues: What progress will be made on issues like debt relief, climate change, and global health?

Outcomes and agreements: What concrete actions will be agreed upon by the G20 leaders?

 

The 2025 G20 Johannesburg Summit promises to be a significant event with the potential to shape the future of global cooperation and development. It’s a chance for South Africa to lead the way in building a more just and sustainable world.