Louise Burne: Donald Trump manages to loom over G20 without even being there 

Meanwhile, Cyril Ramaphosa's spokesman said Ireland was at the summit due to its 'strong bilateral relationship' and 'alignment' with South Africa 

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said Ireland was honoured to be invited to the G20 leaders’ summit in Johannesburg — and Cyril Ramaphosa's spokesman Vincent Magwenya echoed the Taoiseach's thoughts on the strong relationship between Ireland and South Africa. Picture: Marco Longari/AP

“Are you from Trump country?” the group of South African journalists asked the Irish media as they sat on shuttle buses waiting to enter the G20 leaders’ summit.

The one American on the bus slumped in her seat a little bit but admitted that she had travelled to Johannesburg to cover the summit.

Although he may not have been in attendance, US president Donald Trump still managed to dominate the proceedings.

Since a tense Oval Office meeting last May, during which Mr Trump accused South African president Cyril Ramaphosa of presiding over the genocide of white farmers in his country, relations have been strained. As he rolled in television screens to show videos, Mr Ramaphosa denied the assertion.

But the damage was done, and Mr Trump decided he would refuse to attend the G20 leaders’ summit, which focused on the themes of solidarity, equality and sustainability.

He further managed to derail proceedings when it was announced that he had completed a plan to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.

This would include Ukraine ceding land in the Donetsk region and vowing not to join Nato. As it was put to Taoiseach Micheál Martin, there was more in the plan that was of benefit to Russia than there was to help Ukraine.

The plan caused a scramble at the G20, forcing world leaders who had formed part of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s “Coalition of the Willing” to meet on the outskirts of the conference.

Unusually, Ireland had a place at the top table after being invited to partake in the summit by Mr Ramaphosa. The Taoiseach made sure to mention the wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan in this opening address.

Why Ireland was at the G20

Throughout the course of the weekend, Mr Martin spoke of how honoured he was to attend the summit. 

And, as German news reporters questioned their Irish counterparts why “Ireland was even here”, it became clear that the Taoiseach was correct to say it was a big moment.

Vincent Magwenya, Mr Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, told the Irish Examiner that Ireland was invited because of the common values shared between the country and South Africa.

“Ireland is a very important partner to South Africa,” he said.

“They are a very important global player in a whole number of issues where we are firmly aligned, for example, on issues of climate change, financing resilience, issues of inequality, fighting poverty around the world. 

Ireland has been very much aligned to South Africa.

“As chair, president Ramaphosa had that discretion to identify special guest countries, and Ireland was one of those countries simply because of a strong bilateral relationship, but also alignment on a whole host of issues at a multilateral level [and] geopolitically.”

The biggest question on Sunday was what was going to happen when Mr Ramaphosa was supposed to hand over the presidency to the US ahead of the conference being held in Miami next year. 

Mr Trump was not present to receive it, and Mr Ramaphosa was insistent that he would not hand it over to a junior diplomat, a move that earned the president, who is usually seen as quite passive, a lot of respect amongst the South African people.

Instead, there will be a more low-key handing over ceremony between diplomats in the coming weeks.

Back on the media bus on the way to the F&B Stadium on Saturday, road blockages meant that highways were closed off, and a local driver had to do his best to charm the police officers to try and get through.

“I don’t care if Donald Trump is in there. You’re not going through,” a policewoman said.

Maybe he was not as missed as he would like to think he is.