Macron: G20 faces risk as global crises go unaddressed

The G20 group of major world economies is “at risk”, struggling to address pressing international crises, French President Emmanuel Macron warned during a summit in South Africa on November 22, which was notably boycotted by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Macron was among roughly two dozen world leaders attending the Johannesburg gathering, with Trump absent amid tensions with Pretoria over multiple issues.

“The G20 may be coming to the end of a cycle,” Macron said in his address. He added, “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.”

The French president specifically referenced a new unilateral U.S. plan to end the war in Ukraine, which reportedly accommodates some of Russia’s hardline demands.

On the sidelines of the summit, European leaders convened to discuss counter-proposals to the U.S. plan. Macron emphasised, “There can be no peace in Ukraine without Ukrainians, without respect for their sovereignty.”

The G20 consists of 19 countries, including Russia, as well as the European Union and African Union regional groupings. Macron noted that the forum was struggling to establish common ground on issues such as humanitarian law and sovereignty.

World leaders, he said, must recognise that “the G20 is at risk if we do not collectively re-engage around a few priorities.” Macron stressed the need for tangible outcomes, adding, “We must absolutely demonstrate that we have concrete actions to re-engage this forum and provide responses for our economies collectively around this table.”

By Tamilla Hasanova