For millions of Africans whose livelihoods depend on how the world economy is governed, a seat at the G20 table is not a symbolic question but a practical one. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made that point on Wednesday, urging US President Donald Trump to invite South Africa to the G20 summit planned for December in Miami.
Speaking at the Berlin Global Dialogue conference, Merz argued that no serious conversation about the global economy’s future can exclude major partners. “Obviously, Africa belongs at the table,” he said. “The African Union is a member of the G20. And so is South Africa. That’s why I urge that South Africa be represented at the G20 summit.” The chancellor was referring to the gathering of the world’s major industrial and emerging economies, a forum whose decisions ripple outward to citizens far beyond its membership.
Trump had earlier announced that South Africa would not receive an invitation to the 2026 summit. The move followed Washington’s boycott of the Johannesburg summit and stemmed from Trump’s claims of persecution against white farmers in South Africa. For ordinary South Africans, the dispute carries real consequences. Exclusion from a body that shapes trade, finance and development policy affects the economic environment in which businesses operate and households earn their living.
Merz framed the issue as one of fairness and inclusion rather than narrow national interest. If the G20 is to remain, as he put it, a key platform for economic cooperation and global prosperity, then its composition matters to everyone whose wellbeing depends on that cooperation.
Meanwhile, the chancellor pressed a broader case for Europe’s role in the group. As the world’s largest single market, he argued, Europe should have a greater say in G20 affairs. He thanked Trump for inviting the EU members Spain, the Netherlands and Poland to take part as guests alongside regular members, and pledged: “I will work to ensure that they remain part of the G20 loop in future.”
Beyond membership questions, Merz outlined what he believes the Miami summit should deliver for the public. This year’s meeting, he said, should concentrate on issues vital to the future of the world economy: the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence, a secure and affordable energy supply, how to address unfair trade practices, and rising public debt worldwide. Each of these touches citizens directly, from the cost of energy in their homes to the stability of public services financed by national budgets.
Growth, he suggested, should be a priority for the Miami meeting. “Because today more than ever, economic stability and prosperity depend on the international environment,” he said. “To this end, we have proposed the Miami growth agenda to the US. We want to cut red tape jointly, drive necessary structural reforms and facilitate investment.”
Whether South Africa ultimately receives an invitation remains to be seen. Merz’s appeal has placed the question where he believes it belongs, in the realm of shared responsibility for global prosperity. The full report was published by Anadolu Ajansı at https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/germanys-merz-calls-on-trump-to-invite-south-africa-to-g20-summit-/4095857, and the debate it captures is likely to continue as the December summit approaches.