{"id":230642,"date":"2022-07-06T19:56:06","date_gmt":"2022-07-06T17:56:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/how-africans-can-assess-the-value-of-the-latest-g7-summit\/"},"modified":"2022-07-06T19:56:06","modified_gmt":"2022-07-06T17:56:06","slug":"how-africans-can-assess-the-value-of-the-latest-g7-summit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/how-africans-can-assess-the-value-of-the-latest-g7-summit\/","title":{"rendered":"How Africans can assess the value of the latest G7 summit"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Leaders of the world\u2019s seven advanced economies have once again pledged economic support for Africa and other developing countries. But the realisation of these commitments depends on political developments in the Group of Seven (G7)<\/a> countries, specifically the United States, the outcome of Russia\u2019s war with Ukraine, and whether Russian president Vladimir Putin retains his grip on power.<\/p>\n

How each of these political developments will pan out is difficult to tell. But each has an important bearing on the decisions African leaders must make in terms of which power blocs, if any, they align with.<\/p>\n

The G7 is an informal group of advanced democracies that has been meeting annually since 1975. The impetus then was a global recession caused by an energy crisis<\/a>. There was also the desire among the US, UK, Germany and France to have Japan as full partner in meeting that crisis. Italy and Canada were quickly added. The president of the European Commission also attends. <\/p>\n

Topping this year\u2019s agenda were the many pressing economic issues arising from war in Ukraine, notably the scope and effects of western sanctions against Russia. <\/p>\n

US politics was also a backdrop to this year\u2019s summit, amid fears that Donald Trump might return to office in 2024. Trump\u2019s administration was seen as an admirer of Putin and questioned the need for a G7<\/a>. President Joe Biden is, by contrast, an enthusiastic supporter. But Biden faces domestic political insecurities, raising the prospect of Trump\u2019s return or the election in 2024 of someone with his nationalist outlook<\/a>. <\/p>\n

This was the context for this year\u2019s G7 summit<\/a>, to which South African president Cyril Ramaphosa and the current chair of the African Union, Senegal\u2019s Macky Sall, were invited to make presentations. So were the leaders of India, Indonesia and Argentina. Each one is a democracy with extensive ties to members of the G7. But they are also what Brookings scholar Bruce Jones describes as \u201cfence sitters\u201d<\/a> regarding the isolation of Russia.<\/p>\n

African governments especially face many challenges, amid escalating tensions between western democracies, Russia and China. Africa\u2019s interests would be best served if its leaders were to avoid being drawn into the hostile divide between Russia and China and the west<\/a>. But it may not be possible to avoid taking sides while trying to maximise advantageous partnerships.<\/p>\n

Political uncertainties among the major powers abound, including the course of the Ukrainian war, US domestic politics, and even Putin\u2019s hold on power. The Russian leader has been in office since 2000 and has amended Russia\u2019s constitution to extend his term to 2036<\/a>. Biden faces restive voters in 2024, with current polling data showing his support below 40%<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Germany, the summit host, succeeded in having western economic issues of the Ukraine war discussed on the first day. The second day addressed challenges facing African and other developing nations. Climate change, global health, gender equity and digital infrastructure were included. <\/p>\n

Currently, the Ukraine war affects all these issues. Its terrible effects<\/a> on Africa should not be ignored. <\/p>\n

Assessing the value of the G7 summit<\/h2>\n

The G7 summit offered the most recent insights for Africa into how the western advanced nations are considering their stakes in Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine, and the impact that could have on developing nations. Sorting substance from rhetoric will take time. African scepticism as to whether the west will deliver has merit<\/a>. <\/p>\n

As African governments assess the significance of the G7\u2019s promises of support in areas of vital concern to Africans, four key political possibilities could advance or derail them. <\/p>\n