Why did the African Union Join the G20?

 The African Union (AU) has joined the G20 as a permanent member, which is a powerful acknowledgment of the continent's significance on the global stage

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. The AU represents a continent with over 1.3 billion people, the world's largest free trade area, and enormous natural resources

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. The inclusion of the AU in the G20 adds momentum to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's drive to give a greater voice to the Global South

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. The AU's membership in the G20 is a step towards treating Africa as a major geopolitical player rather than a passive victim

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.The United States has been working to change its approach towards Africa, emphasizing partnership and African agency

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. The new U.S. Africa Strategy aims to address the recurring accusation that U.S. foreign policy officials rarely empathize with African policymakers' legitimate economic, political, and security concerns

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. The U.S. is committed to partnering with Africa on a wide range of issues, from economic development and trade to peace and security, democracy, and human rights

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. The U.S. believes it's time to stop treating Africa as a subject of geopolitics and start treating it as the major geopolitical player it has become

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.In summary, the African Union's inclusion in the G20 is an acknowledgment of the continent's importance and a step towards treating African nations as equal partners on the global stage. The U.S. is also working to change its approach towards Africa, emphasizing partnership and African agency.