Reflections on South Africa’s G20 Summit


SAIIA G20 Senior Fellow Daniel Bradlow unpacks what South Africa’s G20 Summit revealed about a fracturing global order and Africa’s place within it.

Speaking to Dr Michael Wankpa in this podcast with the Centre for African Conflict and Development, SAIIA G20 Senior Fellow Daniel Bradlow reflects on what South Africa’s G20 Summit revealed about a rapidly fracturing global order. With US President Donald Trump having boycotted the summit and geopolitical tensions escalating, the conversation explored whether the institutions and norms that once underpinned global governance are eroding.

The episode examines an increasingly lawless international landscape, from military intervention to political interference, and considers what the US’s apparent retreat from global leadership means for Africa. As old power structures weaken, the discussion explored how the continent’s youth, resources, and strategic importance position it to navigate, and potentially shape, what comes next.

The views expressed in this multimedia are those of the author/s and do not necessarily reflect the views of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA).

This content features on the G20 Resource Centre.

19 Jan 2026

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