It is the first African country to lead the forum, though its focus on issues such as inclusive growth and climate change risks bumping up against the hard reality of trade wars and diplomatic tensions.

Coming a year after the African Union was admitted as a permanent member of the G20, SA's turn at the helm is seen as an opportunity to push for progress on policy areas crucial to the continent's development.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has cited inclusive economic growth, food security, climate change and artificial intelligence as priorities, with details expected next week.

SA is the fourth emerging market in a row to assume the G20 presidency, which rotates annually, after Indonesia, India and Brazil, and Ramaphosa has said his country would seek to build on the work of those predecessors.

The United States (US) will take over in December 2025 under the leadership of Donald Trump, whose incoming administration has threatened to introduce restrictive trade tariffs on nations including Canada, Mexico and China, raising fears of trade wars.

Trump has also largely rejected the scientific consensus on the impact of human activity on climate change and vowed to dismantle climate-related policies he will inherit from President Joe Biden.

"It will be important for SA to ensure that it consolidates positions of the Global South and hands over to the US a solid legacy on issues to avoid the US and Global North diluting or undermining the whole agenda of the Global South," said David Monyae, director of the Centre for Africa-China Studies at the University of Johannesburg.

--Reuters--