South Africa announces G20 foreign ministers summit in February 2025

The G20 foreign ministers are set to convene in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 20–21 February 2025, as confirmed by Marat Berdyev, Russia’s Special Envoy for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to Marat Berdyev the South African presidency has officially announced that it will host the first meeting of foreign ministers from G20 member states under its auspices, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

"The event will take place in Johannesburg on 20–21 February,” Berdyev stated.

The G20, or Group of Twenty, comprises 19 countries and two unions: Russia, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Canada, China, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Türkiye, France, South Korea, South Africa, Japan, the European Union, and the African Union.

To recall, South Africa assumed the presidency of the G20, beginning its tenure on December 1, 2024, and held its first official engagement, the G20 Sherpas Meeting, in Johannesburg on January 15, 2025.

Under the theme "Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability," South Africa aims to address key global challenges, including disaster resilience, debt relief for low-income countries, and resource mobilization for a just energy transition.

The presidency has introduced temporary task forces and a commission to focus on inclusive growth, industrialization, employment creation, AI governance, and sustainable development.

South Africa seeks to align its G20 agenda with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, prioritizing socio-economic transformation in Africa.

The presidency underscores strengthening multilateral institutions, promoting fairness in the international order, and fostering cooperative solutions to geopolitical, economic, and climate challenges.

The ongoing Sherpas Meeting will shape the G20 Summit agenda for 2025, followed by the Finance and Central Bank Deputies Meeting in mid-December 2024.

This presidency marks a pivotal moment for South Africa to lead on critical global issues while advocating for Africa’s priorities on the international stage.

By Aghakazim Guliyev