Merkel facing tough G20 balancing act

This research paper analyzes the German G20 presidency in 2017, focusing on Germany's strategic initiatives for Africa and the challenges posed by the United States' shift toward protectionism under President Donald Trump.

• The German G20 presidency implemented two interconnected initiatives for Africa: the Compact with Africa (CwA), led by the German Finance Ministry, and the Marshall Plan for Africa, a bilateral initiative from the Development Ministry. These programs aim to increase private sector participation and sustainable investment by lowering the perceived risks for foreign companies in African economies.
• Germany's focus on Africa is driven by the migration crisis starting in 2014, based on the belief that migration flows cannot be stopped by border closures but must be addressed by tackling instability and weak economic opportunities in the countries of origin.
• The 2017 G20 summit in Hamburg faces disruption due to President Donald Trump's protectionist agenda, which includes withdrawing from the Paris Climate Change Agreement, rolling back financial regulations such as the Dodd-Frank Act, and exiting major international trade negotiations.
• The G20 agenda has evolved from its original purpose of addressing the 2008 financial crisis to a broader forum covering global economic growth, climate change, sustainability, and the causes of human displacement.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2017). Merkel facing tough G20 balancing act. https://saiia.org.za/research/merkel-facing-tough-g20-balancing-act/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Merkel facing tough G20 balancing act. 2017. https://saiia.org.za/research/merkel-facing-tough-g20-balancing-act/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Merkel facing tough G20 balancing act |date=7 July 2017 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/merkel-facing-tough-g20-balancing-act/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2017merkel, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Merkel facing tough G20 balancing act}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2017}, month = jul, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/merkel-facing-tough-g20-balancing-act/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }