Berlin (dpa) – The German government is hoping that the African Union (AU) will already be admitted into the influential G20 group of states at the upcoming summit in India this weekend. Apparently there is agreement in principle: “Nobody is standing up and saying: We don’t want that,” announced the German delegation. What does need to be clarified, however, is how to deal with other regional organisations such as the Asean group of Asian countries or the Celac group of Latin American and Caribbean states, the statement continued. One conceivable option would be a promise to initiate talks with these organisations.
So far, the European Union with its 27 member states is the only regional organisation that belongs to the G20 group of leading economic powers. All African countries that are generally internationally recognised, as well as the Western Sahara, a territory whose status under international law is controversial, belong to the AU. It has 55 member states in total.
During a trip to Africa in May, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had already voiced clear support for the AU’s admission to the G20. “This is demanded by respect for the continent and its many countries, and its growing population,” he said, adding that Africa needed to play a bigger role in international politics, namely one that reflects its growing importance.
Besides the EU, the world’s 19 strongest economies belong to the G20 group. It is a central forum for international economic cooperation, though it nowadays also engages with many other global issues, from the fight against terrorism to climate action and wars. The G20 summit is taking place in New Delhi in India.
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