British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has arrived in Johannesburg, South Africa, for the annual G20 summit, where he’ll emphasize the benefits of the UK’s international trade deals and partnerships.
Starmer’s visit aims to promote UK businesses abroad, particularly in Africa, which is expected to be home to over a quarter of the world’s population by 2050.
Before the summit, Starmer will visit a Johannesburg depot to inspect trains built in Derby and announce a new deal for the UK to provide strategic advice and consultancy services to South Africa’s railways.
Crossrail International, a UK government-owned organization, will carry out the work, having also signed a similar deal with Vietnam.
Starmer’s visit comes as US President Donald Trump boycotts the summit, citing claims of persecution against white Afrikaners in South Africa – claims that have been widely discredited. South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has dismissed Trump’s absence as “their loss,” stating that boycott politics doesn’t work.
The G20 summit brings together the world’s 20 largest economies to discuss global economic issues.
Starmer is expected to focus on securing investment and trade deals to benefit the UK, while South Africa aims to highlight Africa’s priorities, including poverty alleviation, food security, and climate change.
