South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his disappointment regarding the recent announcement from US President Donald Trump, stating that South Africa will not receive an invitation to the upcoming 2026 G20 summit in Florida. In a post shared on social media, Trump indicated that the decision stemmed from South Africa's refusal to transfer the G20 presidency to a representative from the US embassy during last week's summit held in Johannesburg.
Trump's proclamation noted, "At my direction, South Africa will NOT be receiving an invitation to the 2026 G20, which will be hosted in the Great City of Miami, Florida next year." It is important to highlight that while G20 members typically do not require an invitation to attend, they can face restrictions on visa access.
Notably, Trump chose to boycott the Johannesburg summit due to a widely discredited narrative alleging that South Africa's white minority faces large-scale killings and land seizures. In response to Trump's comments, Ramaphosa clarified that the United States was anticipated to engage in the G20 meetings but opted not to attend the summit in Johannesburg voluntarily. He also mentioned that some representatives from US businesses and civil society did participate.
Ramaphosa explained that since the US delegation was absent, the instruments of the G20 Presidency were appropriately handed over to a US Embassy official at the headquarters of South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation. This low-profile transition seemingly intensified Trump's frustration, who has been vocally critical of South Africa's domestic and foreign policies.
In previous statements, Trump has repeatedly suggested that a white genocide is occurring in South Africa, claiming that the government is responsible for the deaths of white individuals and the unjust seizure of their farmland. The South African government has consistently dismissed these assertions as unfounded and lacking credible evidence.
In his statement, Ramaphosa lamented the fact that, despite ongoing efforts to mend relations with the US, Trump persists in imposing punitive actions against South Africa based on misinformation and misrepresentations about the nation.
In a post shared on Truth Social, Trump declared that South Africa has proven itself unworthy of membership in global organizations and announced an immediate halt to all payments and subsidies to the nation. This declaration has raised concerns among South African officials, who are advocating for solidarity among the G20 members to uphold the integrity of the group and the rights of its member states.
The recent G20 summit, which marked the first time the event was held in Africa, concluded with a joint declaration that emphasized the importance of multilateral cooperation in addressing climate change and economic inequality. This declaration was adopted despite objections from the US, which accused South Africa of manipulating its leadership role in the group this year. The ongoing tensions between the US and South Africa underscore the complexities of international relations and the challenges faced by nations striving for cooperative global governance.
Additional reporting for this article was provided by Pumza Fihlani in Johannesburg.