“You Should Have Told Us Hosting the G20 Is Difficult”
A Light-hearted Remark with Heavy Diplomatic Undertones
When Cyril Ramaphosa — President of South Africa — sat down with Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, what started as a bilateral talk took on an unexpectedly candid twist. The setting: discussions ahead of South Africa preparing to host the upcoming G20 Summit on African soil. The mood: friendly, respectful — yet with a dash of self-depreciation.
Ramaphosa opened with a joke, tinged with real meaning: “You should have told us that it is such a difficult task; maybe we would have run away.”
At first glance, it’s humorous. But beneath the laughter lies a recognition of the organisational challenge that comes with hosting a summit of this scale. The G20 is not simply a conference — it’s years of preparation, complex logistics, high security, diplomatic choreography and global attention.
Ramaphosa went on to say that South Africa has “learned a lot from your hosting of the G20 … and yours was spectacular… ours is really small.” His modesty highlights the gap between what India has already done (hosting in 2023) and what South Africa is gearing up to do. Prime Minister Modi responded with a warm retort: “Small is always beautiful.”
Why This Matters
1. Symbolic significance of hosting
Hosting the G20 isn’t just about the event itself—it’s about global prestige, setting agendas, projecting soft power. South Africa hosting the summit: a milestone for Africa in the G20 process. The African Union became a member during India’s presidency in 2023.
2. A nod to India’s prior effort
India’s hosting of the 2023 summit at the impressive Bharat Mandapam set a benchmark; South Africa openly acknowledges India’s “spectacular” job.
3. Transparently acknowledging the challenge
Diplomatic courtesy often glosses over difficulties. Ramaphosa’s remark stands out because it admits: the job is hard. It also builds goodwill: thanks to India for sharing lessons; friendly banter establishes human connection.
The Takeaways
- Hosting a major global summit is not trivial. Even in a friendly, joke-filled exchange, the weight of the task is evident.
- Bilateral relations among major democracies like India and South Africa involve both formality and informality. A joke can signal deeper respect and mutual learning.
- For South Africa, this moment is dual: a chance to step onto a larger stage, and a period of intense preparation and expectation.
- For India, being acknowledged as a model reinforces its position in global diplomacy and multilateral forums.
Looking Ahead
As South Africa moves closer to its G20-host year, one can expect more dialogues like this — between hosts and former hosts, between nations across continents. Lessons will be shared. Pressures will be felt. And as Ramaphosa said, maybe the next host will ask: “You should have told us it would be so difficult.”
Reviewed by Aparna Decors
on
November 24, 2025
Rating:
