UK PM meets Ramaphosa in Johannesburg as G20 opens
On 21 November 2025, the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, met South Africa’s President, Cyril Ramaphosa, in Johannesburg. The official UK government readout says they spoke about trade, support for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, and the need for a humanitarian truce in Sudan as leaders gather for Africa’s first G20.
If you’re learning about global summits, here’s the why. This weekend’s gathering is the first G20 hosted on African soil, with formal leaders’ sessions scheduled in Johannesburg on 22–23 November 2025. The G20 brings together major economies plus the European Union and, since 2023, the African Union as a permanent member so Africa has a stronger seat at the table.
Trade talk was practical, not abstract. The Prime Minister pointed to British-built trains and parts made in Derby and used in South Africa as a simple example of how supply chains link the two countries. Moments like this help us picture what “economic partnership” looks like beyond speeches.
The numbers matter for classrooms and boardrooms alike. The UK says annual trade with South Africa is nearly £12 billion, and both sides are rolling out an Authorised Economic Operator Mutual Recognition Arrangement to cut red tape for trusted traders. AEO status means a company has been vetted for customs compliance and security; mutual recognition means each country accepts the other’s trusted traders at the border.
Quick glossary you can share with students. When you read bilateral, think two countries working directly together. A G20 presidency is the country hosting and shaping the agenda for the year, supported by a “troika” of the previous, current and next hosts. A humanitarian truce is a short pause to let aid in; a ceasefire is a more formal stop to fighting that can open the door to talks. And an AEO MRA is simply a deal to speed up customs for trusted firms on both sides.
On Ukraine, the UK’s phrase “just and lasting peace” signals that any end to the war should uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty and security in line with international commitments. UK officials have used this language repeatedly in Vienna and in Parliament this year. As readers, we can spot how consistent wording helps governments set expectations.
On Sudan, the leaders backed a push to pause the fighting so aid can reach civilians and to work towards a real ceasefire. Talks in November saw the RSF say it accepted a U.S.-backed humanitarian truce, though past pauses have been fragile. For learners, note the difference between a temporary truce and a negotiated ceasefire.
If you’re studying how trade policy shows up in real life, watch the deals that often sit alongside diplomacy. The UK trailed packages around rail expertise through Crossrail International and defence maintenance by Babcock, and flagged a wider set of export agreements worth around £400 million. This is economic diplomacy in action: leaders use summit time to unlock commercial projects and jobs.
What to look for next. The G20 sessions run through 22–23 November in Johannesburg. Expect language on development finance, debt and industrial transition-priorities South Africa has signposted in business forums this week-alongside any references to Ukraine or Sudan in leaders’ statements. As always, compare what is promised with what is delivered in the months ahead.
Source note for learners. This article is built from the UK government’s official meeting readout, which is brief and written from one side’s perspective. Good media literacy means comparing it with South African sources or trusted reporting to see what each emphasises before you reach a conclusion.