The 84-year-old King of Saudi Arabia, Salman ibn Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, whose health appears fragile, will chair the virtual G20 summit in Riyadh this weekend. The COVID-19 pandemic, which will also be the main topic of the video conference, makes a face-to-face meeting of the world’s most important heads of state and government impossible. Because of Corona, the “Group of 20” had already got together for an extraordinary meeting in March. At that time, King Salman had sluggishly praised international cooperation in a sluggish voice and with flowery words: “Thanks to our cooperation, we are now confident that together we will overcome the crisis and embark on a future in which all peoples will prosper, be prosperous and healthy.”
The aged monarch Salman heads the G20 meeting
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More economic stimulus programs?
The international corona crisis is far from over. The world is in an unprecedented economic crisis that the G20 are grappling with. The Saudi Arabian presidency of the G20 calculates that the most important industrialized and emerging countries and the EU intend to invest around eleven trillion dollars in economic stimulus programs. $ 21 billion is earmarked for vaccines and therapies against corona. 14 billion dollars in debt interest are to be deferred to poorer countries. The 19 heads of state and government as well as the representatives of the EU now have to discuss whether these sums are sufficient or whether they still have to be saddled up. The interests of the group are very opposite. The US, represented by President Trump, who still refuses to resign, thinks little of international institutions, while the Europeans insist on global cooperation in the distribution of vaccines.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) pulls the strings in the background
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Deferred interest, no debt relief
The poorer countries of the world that are not at the G20 table do not expect too much from the meeting. Political expert Yves Ekoue Amaizo, who comes from Togo and lives in Vienna, does not believe that the G20 will actually cancel any significant debts. “People will talk about debt relief. No doubt about it,” said Amaizo. But only the interest payments would be deferred. The guilt as such remains. “Nor will it be about private loans. If so, then maybe about state loans.” Political expert Amaizo said that they made up the smaller part of the debt burden. The Togolese scientist does not believe that the industrialized countries have any real interest in debt relief for Africa. China, the US, Russia and Europe would argue among themselves how to secure access to African raw materials through loans and investments: “They have no interest in getting rid of their debtors. It will be hotly debated There isn’t much of that in Africa, as you know, it’s about natural resources. It’s about easier, cheaper access. “
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EU wants to negotiate bilaterally with Saudi’s problems
There are strong doubts among parliamentarians in the US and the EU whether a meeting chaired by the absolute monarchy of Saudi Arabia is really appropriate. The European Parliament demanded that EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Charles Michel not sit in front of the video screen this time. “It would be better not to send a high-level delegation, but a simple delegation capable of sending a strong signal to the Saudi authorities,” Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella told DW. The EU Commission rejects these demands. It’s not about the situation in Saudi Arabia, but about global issues such as the economic crisis or climate protection, says Eric Mamer, spokesman for the EU Commission: “We don’t set the G20 agenda. These meetings follow very strict rules and regulations Minutes when it comes to the right to speak. These are the conditions under which the EU takes part in the G20 meetings. ” There will hardly be any public criticism of the host country Saudi Arabia. The EU wants to do this discreetly, announced Eric Mamer. “There are many communication channels in our bilateral dialogue with Saudi Arabia through which we can raise our human rights concerns.”
Her first G20 summit: EU Commission President von der Leyen wants to address human rights “bilaterally”
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Massive problems with human rights
There are many criticisms of the Saudi system of rule. The murder of the critical journalist Jamal Khashoggi two years ago has still not been solved. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is said to be behind the attack that was carried out in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. But eliminating the opposition is only the tip of the iceberg, says Rothna Begum of the human rights organization “Human Rights Watch”. She has been observing the conditions in the extremely prosperous oil monarchy for years. “Saudi Arabia has a dire human rights situation. It is still at war with its neighbor Yemen. Saudi Arabia suppresses human rights activists in its own country. Dozens of opposition activists have been jailed, anyone who expresses any form of criticism. Furthermore, human rights are being protected hurt by women because male guardianship degrades women to second class citizens in their own country, “says Rothna Begum, assessing the situation.
During the G20 presidency, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and many other members of the ruling family tried to give the country a new image. More open to reform, more open to the world and more accessible than many people assume. The permission for women to drive a car and apply for a passport on their own caused a stir. The system in which men make all decisions for women has been softened somewhat in the deeply conservative Islamic country. “The Crown Prince would like to adorn himself with the reforms that the women themselves have demanded,” said Rothna Begum of “Human Rights Watch”. “At the same time he locks the activists for women’s rights in prison. That is ridiculous. If you want to be seen as champions for women’s rights, you cannot lock up women who demand them at the same time.”
G20-Eperte Amaizo: Little concrete help for Africa
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Saudis use their influence
Saudi Arabia, which with its immense wealth likes to go on shopping spree with arms manufacturers in Europe and the USA, is also suspected of actively promoting Islamist terror. Political expert Yves Ekoue Amaizo gives an example from Africa. “African states with a majority Muslim population send their people to the Saudis to fight in Yemen. The reasons for this are the money and the high investments they get from the Saudis for their country.” In return for corruption and grievances in African countries, the Saudis remained silent, according to Amaizo.
EU diplomats warn against too high expectations and against too harsh standards. The G20 are not a community of values, but mainly a business club. After all, Western democracies with autocratic regimes like in Russia, a one-party dictatorship in China and the absolute monarchy of Saudi Arabia with very different interests should find a basis for discussion here.
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