Godsent Ogbebor
South Africa Reacts to US Exclusion from 2026 G20 Summit
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed disappointment over US President Donald Trump’s decision to exclude South Africa from the 2026 G20 summit, following a dispute at last week’s gathering in Johannesburg.
In a post on social media, Trump announced that South Africa would not be invited to the summit in Miami due to the country’s refusal to allow a US embassy representative to take over the G20 presidency during the summit. Trump stated that the decision was made “at my direction” and underscored the importance of this action.
South Africa’s presidential spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, called the situation “regrettable” but emphasised that the country would look beyond the G20 summit in the US if necessary. Magwenya also pointed out that despite the tension, South Africa is committed to collaborating with other G20 members to advance the issues discussed at the summit in Johannesburg.
Ramaphosa also addressed the US’s absence at the G20, explaining that the US had voluntarily chosen not to attend the G20 Leaders Summit in Johannesburg. However, despite the absence of the US delegation, some American businesses and civil society organisations were present. The handover of G20 presidency instruments to a US embassy official, a move which Trump criticised, appeared to exacerbate the tension between the two nations.
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The US President has previously made contentious claims about South Africa, including unsubstantiated allegations of “white genocide” and large-scale land grabs. These claims have been consistently rejected by the South African government, which calls them misleading and lacking credible evidence.
In response to Trump’s latest actions, Ramaphosa expressed regret that efforts to reset US-South Africa relations were being undermined by “misinformation and distortions” about the country. Trump also announced the immediate cessation of payments and subsidies to South Africa, further escalating the diplomatic row.
South African officials have called for solidarity from other G20 members, urging them to uphold the integrity of the summit and protect the rights of all member states. Despite the disagreements, the G20 summit in Johannesburg ended with a joint declaration committing to global cooperation on issues such as climate change and economic inequality, which was adopted even in the face of US objections.
