December 12, 2025 — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola held a telephone conversation Friday, focusing on cooperation within the Group of 20 (G20).
The ministers exchanged views on pressing issues tied to the forum’s agenda and reaffirmed the G20’s role as a central platform for international economic cooperation. Both emphasized the importance of consensus-based dialogue in addressing global governance challenges.
Context: Russia–South Africa Relations
Diplomatic ties between Russia and South Africa date back to 1992, but the partnership is rooted in deeper historical solidarity. Moscow’s support for the African National Congress during the anti-apartheid struggle laid the foundation for a relationship built on shared resistance to colonialism and Western dominance. Today, the two countries maintain a comprehensive strategic partnership, covering trade, energy, mining, agriculture, and intellectual property agreements.
In recent years, Lavrov and Lamola have underscored the need for closer coordination at multilateral forums, including the United Nations, BRICS, and the G20. During meetings earlier this year, they highlighted cooperation on issues ranging from Middle East conflicts to economic development.
Recent G20 Debates
The conversation comes on the heels of the 2025 G20 Summit in Johannesburg, the first ever held on African soil. The summit marked a milestone for the Global South, with the African Union formally integrated as a permanent member. Leaders grappled with urgent challenges:

• Global debt crisis threatening growth in developing economies.
• Climate resilience and industrialization, central to the African agenda.
• Geopolitical fractures, including boycotts by the United States and Argentina, which underscored divisions within the multilateral system.
  South Africa, as host, pushed themes of “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability”, positioning itself as a voice for emerging economies. Russia, meanwhile, sought to reinforce multipolar cooperation and resist what it views as Western unilateralism.
  Prior Statements
  In April, Lavrov and Lamola met in Moscow, where they pledged to deepen political dialogue and expand trade. Lavrov stressed that “mutually advantageous collaboration in commerce, the economy, science, and technology” was central to the bilateral agenda. Lamola echoed the sentiment, noting that South Africa’s partnership with Russia was “strategic and rooted in shared values of sovereignty and equality.”
  Analysis
  The December 12 call reflects both countries’ determination to present a united front within the G20, especially after a summit that exposed fractures in global governance. For Russia, South Africa remains a crucial ally in Africa and within BRICS. For South Africa, ties with Moscow bolster its positioning as a bridge between the Global South and major powers.