By Lisa Otto
Lisa is an Associate Professor and Deputy Director of the SARChI Chair: African Diplomacy and Foreign Policy at the University of Johannesburg. She holds a C-2 NRF rating and acts as co-editor in chief of the African Security Review.
She holds a D.Litt et Phil in Political Studies from the University of Johannesburg and an MA in International Peace and Security from King’s College London. Her research intersects in the areas of security, diplomacy, and foreign policy, having a particular interest in maritime and climate politics, and the diplomatic practice surrounding these while focusing on Africa.
Lisa says:”The second Trump administration has entrenched ideological rifts between Washington and Pretoria. The return of a transactional, personality-driven US foreign policy, which is now amplified by Elon Musk’s unpredictable (albeit apparently waning) influence, has turned bilateral relations into a theatre for populist posturing and grievance politics. For South Africa, this means navigating a US counterpart increasingly inclined to politicise bilateral tensions, from economic empowerment policies to global governance alignment, all while demanding loyalty in an era of multipolarity.
“The US’ presence at the G20 summit is about more than optics – it will test the credibility of American claims to global leadership while likewise speaking to whether Washington recognises South Africa as having relative power in this context. Attendance would affirm a commitment to inclusive multilateralism and African agency, while its absence could signal retreat into strategic selectivity, risking the alienation of African partners. For South Africa, it’s an opportunity to convene and influence global debate from the Global South, and the US’s choice will be read as a verdict on whether Washington sees that role as legitimate.”
