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UK Prime Minister arrives in Johannesburg for G20 summit
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer landed in Johannesburg on Friday to join world leaders at the annual G20 summit, emphasizing the summit's role in bolstering UK business interests and international alliances. His visit comes as former U.S. President Donald Trump skips the event, citing unsubstantiated claims of persecution against white South Africans.
Starmer's agenda: Business deals and Ukraine support
Downing Street stated that Starmer's trip aims to strengthen economic ties, particularly in Africa, where over half the population is under 20 and the continent is projected to host a quarter of the global population by 2050. Before the summit's official opening, Starmer will visit a Johannesburg depot showcasing UK-built trains from Derby and announce a new agreement: the UK will provide strategic consultancy services to South Africa's railways through the government-owned Crossrail International, which recently secured a similar deal with Vietnam.
Starmer told reporters en route that his focus would be on "the deals we can do, the business we can do, with our partner countries-ensuring our international work directly benefits people at home." He linked foreign investment to domestic priorities, including cost-of-living relief and job creation.
Ukraine war discussions with Macron and Merz
Starmer is scheduled to join French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The talks follow Zelensky's statement that he is open to collaborating with the U.S. on its "vision" for ending the war, despite leaked proposals reportedly aligning with Russian demands-including Kyiv ceding parts of the Donetsk region, reducing its military, and forgoing NATO membership, positions Ukraine had previously rejected.
Trump's absence and South Africa's response
Trump's decision to skip the summit, which he called a "total disgrace" on social media, reiterates his claims of persecution against white Afrikaners-a narrative unsupported by South African political parties, including those representing Afrikaner communities. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa dismissed the boycott, stating, "Their loss. Boycott politics doesn't work."
The Trump administration has prioritized refugee status for white South Africans, a policy critics argue lacks evidence of systemic persecution. No major South African party has endorsed claims of genocide.
Downing Street's Africa strategy
Africa's demographic and economic potential is central to Starmer's pitch. Downing Street highlighted the continent's "unparalleled future opportunities for UK businesses," framing engagement as critical for post-Brexit trade and investment growth.
