Does holding a G20 summit in a developing country like South Africa, the first such summit on the African continent, give new significance to this association of the "top" 20 economies in the world? Or is it simply a convenient venue for the BRICS+ group? Are countries like Indonesia, India, Brazil, and now South Africa, developing nations that have become key players, ready to hold the so-called developed world accountable for its double standards and political machinations that have disrupted the global order? Or is it just another tactic to deflect responsibility and make empty political promises?

In Pretoria, South Africa, on July 28th, the third Russia-Africa International Forum, hosted by the Valdai Discussion Club and the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), discussed the key role of Africa in shaping a new geopolitical order. The program, titled "Realpolitik Responses in a Fragmented World: Reassessing Ties Between Russia and South Africa in a Global and African Context," provided much food for thought.

Africa is nearly twice the size of Russia and significantly larger than the total landmass of the former Soviet Union, which collapsed in 1989 after the Cold War, leading to the emergence of several new Eastern European states, including Ukraine. Geographically, Russia is located in the northeastern hemisphere of the Eurasian continent, while Africa spans all four hemispheres, with Europe as its closest neighbor, situated centrally between the Americas and Asia.

Politically, Russia is a federation comprising 21 republics, 46 regions, 4 districts, and two federal cities, Moscow and St. Petersburg, with a population of approximately 150 million. In contrast, Africa, arbitrarily divided by European colonizers during the Berlin Conference of 1884, is now composed of 54 sovereign states, each with its own constitution, capital, government, bureaucracy, and diplomatic protocols. The continent is home to nearly 2 billion people, with a significant young population, of whom 70% are under 30 years old.

Given this historical context, the emergence and continued expansion of the BRICS group, along with platforms like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Russia-Africa Forum, signals the emergence of a new global paradigm that is rapidly gaining momentum.

The former Soviet Union was a staunch supporter of African liberation movements during their struggles against repressive colonial regimes. This effort was recognized and appreciated by newly independent African states. The Soviet Union's involvement in the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale in Angola (1987-1988) played a crucial role in the liberation of Namibia and paved the way for a potential democratic transition in South Africa. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 marked the collapse of the Soviet Union and the emergence of the Russian Federation, along with 15 newly independent states.

During World War II, Russia faced threats from Nazi Germany in the west and Imperial Japan in the east, playing a key role in the Allied victory – a milestone we commemorate this year with the 80th anniversary. This was not the first time that Russia had defended itself against European dominance; French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte also failed in his conquest. Today, NATO's aggressive stance is repeating history – and failing once again. Despite its European cultural roots and post-communist efforts to forge closer ties with the West, Russia has once again focused its global engagement on its long-standing partners in Asia and Africa.

"South Africa has recently faced antagonism, despite being a constitutional democracy governed by principles of equality and justice. Punitive sanctions and threats of diplomatic condemnation for South Africa's positions on foreign policy issues reveal the persistent double standards and misplaced moral authority that some countries in the Global North promote." "The upcoming G20 summit in Johannesburg provides an opportunity to address this new global dynamic. As the host country of this crucial conference, South Africa has the opportunity to facilitate a meaningful dialogue between East and West, North and South. This is a chance for multipolarity and multilateralism to move beyond rhetoric and engage in genuine realpolitik." "Kirtan Bhana - TDS" "thediplomaticsociety.co.za/gnews.cz-jav"