With the G20 Summit in South Africa and the EU–AU Summit making headlines, Paul Baker, CEO of International Economics Consulting, was invited by Business Magazine‘s journalist Eve Fidèle, to share his perspective on shifting global power dynamics and Mauritius’ strategic place within this evolving landscape. A summary of his views is given below.
As the G20 meets in South Africa and the EU–AU Summit follows immediately after, it is tempting to declare a historic turning point in global power dynamics. In reality, we should be careful not to overstate the coincidences of events. The EU–AU Summit is now a regular fixture, and while the G20’s first meeting on African soil is undeniably significant – and its closing statements give more space to the Global South – this does not yet amount to a fundamental re‑ordering of the system.
What is changing is the substance of the world order itself. We are living in a genuinely multipolar era, with a fraying Western‑led architecture and a more vocal, diverse Global South. Mauritius finds itself at the crossroads of these currents: institutionally and economically close to the UK, the EU, and other Western partners, yet culturally and geopolitically connected to India, Africa, China, and the wider Global South. Its strength lies precisely in not being locked into a single camp, but in carefully balancing these relationships – even as sensitive issues like de-dollarisation will force small nations such as Mauritius to take clearer positions on which pathways to choose.
For a small island state, Mauritius already punches above its weight. From climate and the blue/green economy to digital transformation, trade agreements and debt discussions, it is active across multiple fronts and coalitions. Mauritius has built credible diplomatic capital, especially within African groupings and at the WTO. It can help shape better outcomes for African states and SIDS – not as a perfectly “neutral” mediator, which no country truly is, but as a constructive bridge‑builder between divergent interests and principles.
Looking ahead, the challenge is to make its foreign policy even more strategic, transparent, and proactive. That means strengthening its analytical capacity, producing white papers on issues of importance, making better use of its missions abroad, and engaging stakeholders more systematically at home. By getting this right, Mauritius can deepen its role as a commercial, financial and diplomatic gateway to Africa, and a pragmatic connector in an increasingly complex and fraught geopolitical world.
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