G20 summit in Johannesburg: South Africa emphasises the importance of multilateralism
Angola's President Joao Lourenco (C) and Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (R) attend a G20 Leaders' Summit plenary session at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg on November 22, 2025.
Image: Leon Neal / POOL /AFP
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa opened a G20 summit in Johannesburg on Saturday by emphasising the need for "multilateralism" to confront "the threats facing humanity today".
His call was made to a room full of leaders from major economies around the world - with the notable exception of US President Donald Trump, who boycotted the summit.
"The G20 underscores the value of the relevance of multilateralism," Ramaphosa said in an opening address.
EU and South Africa sign minerals deal
On Thursday, the European Union and South Africa said they have agreed to boost exploration, extraction and refining of minerals and metals in the resource-rich African nation to secure supplies for the green transition.
A deal laying the foundation for future cooperation was signed in Johannesburg as EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and Ramaphosa met ahead of a G20 summit.
Brussels has been scrambling to secure critical minerals and rare earth elements, which are essential for electronic goods such as batteries, and needed for the bloc's green transition.
"We need these inputs to power the clean energy transition, both here and in Europe," von der Leyen told a press conference.
The agreement comes as Brussels and Pretoria seek to bolster relations, both buffeted by US tariffs.
Trump has accused South Africa of persecuting white farmers, a narrative denied by Pretoria.
The agreement "aims to identify and jointly develop industrial projects of common interest across the exploration, extraction, refining and recycling of minerals and metals," according to an EU statement.
Ramaphosa described the deal as "unprecedented", saying it would create value in South Africa, with processing expected to take place there.
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa (L) shakes hands with European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen (R) during a joint press conference with European Council President Antonio Costa following the SA-EU trilateral leaders’ meeting at the Sandton Convention Centre in Sandton on November 20, 2025, ahead of the G20 leaders' Summit.
Image: GIANLUIGI GUERCIA / AFP
South Africa holds more than three-quarters of the world's reserves of platinum-group metals, the largest reserves of manganese, and is among the top producers of chromium, according to the US Geological Survey.
"In an increasingly unstable geopolitical environment, Europe aims to secure its supply chain of critical raw materials and diversify our sources," said Stephane Sejourne, the EU's industry chief.
The 27-nation bloc is seeking to end its dependence on rare earths - a subset of critical raw materials - from China, after Beijing announced further curbs on the export of minerals vital to many key sectors.