Putin’s war in Ukraine is putting the G20 to the test. This is one of the reasons why the heads of state in India have now agreed on a historic step. It was long overdue.
A comment by Patrick Diekmann, New Delhi
The world is repeatedly shaken by crises, and there is rarely reason for joy in international politics. But there is still: the good news. Although you often have to wait a long time for them. The admission of the African Union (AU) to the G20 is one of the positive messages coming from the current summit in India.
To be clear: it is a historic step that was long overdue. But many G20 states – and especially the West – have an ulterior motive for greater integration of African states. The focus is on the conflict with Russia and China, who want to increase their influence in Africa – and less on the pursuit of political fairness. Unfortunately, that is the bitter reality.
So far, only one nation from the African continent, South Africa, has been a member of the club of the most influential economic powers – a clear disproportion. The AU represents the interests of around 1.3 billion people and has the youngest and fastest growing population in the world. According to estimates, Africa could have around 2.5 billion inhabitants by 2050. Only around 450 million people live in the EU, which is also a member of the G20.
There is great pressure on the G20
It is therefore logical that the African Union should have a seat at the table when the future of the global economy is debated. In fact, it is actually a scandal that this step is only now being taken. The timing of the inclusion is no coincidence, as the G20 format will have to fight for its importance in the future.
Videos | African Union should become a member of the G20
Quelle: Glomex
The G20 group is in a fight for survival. This is mainly due to China and Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping are striving for a new world order. They see the Brics format of the emerging emerging countries as a counter-model to the G7 meetings in the West.
Putin and Xi want to strengthen Brics and so the association decided in mid-August to accept six more members – including two African representatives, Egypt and Ethiopia. South Africa will be joined by three of the eleven Brics member states from the African continent. This also put the G20 under pressure to follow suit. The inclusion of the AU is now the logical consequence.
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Africa is a plaything of interests
It is important that the voices of African countries are now heard more. Because many of them suffer relatively more from the consequences of the climate crisis and struggle with poverty and famine. These are existential questions for humanity that cannot remain unanswered. The admission of the AU could provide new, important impulses in the G20 club. So far, he has not seemed prepared to make major political leaps.
