Tensions between South Africa and the United States escalated sharply on Wednesday after President Cyril Ramaphosa issued a strongly worded statement rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that South Africa will not be invited to the 2026 G20 Summit.
The South African Presidency described Trump’s remarks as “regrettable” and “based on misinformation,” stressing that South Africa remains a full and rightful member of the G20 and will continue to take part in all its meetings “on an equal footing.”
Ramaphosa’s office underscored that the 2025 G20 Leaders’ Summit hosted in Johannesburg — which the United States pointedly did not attend — was widely hailed as one of the most successful in the forum’s history. The summit adopted a declaration reaffirming the strength of multilateralism in addressing global economic and security challenges.
According to Pretoria, the U.S. absence from the 2025 summit was a voluntary decision. The transfer of the G20 Presidency — normally conducted between heads of state — was instead handed to a U.S. Embassy representative at South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation.
“South Africa is a sovereign constitutional democracy and does not appreciate insults from another country about its membership and worth in participating in global platforms,” the presidency wrote, adding that the country has “always valued consensus, collaboration and partnership” in the G20.
The statement noted that, despite Washington’s non-participation at the Leaders’ Summit, U.S. companies and civil society organisations were actively involved in G20-related engagements such as the B20 and the G20 Social.
The diplomatic clash intensified after Trump announced that the United States would immediately halt all payments and subsidies to South Africa — a move Pretoria views as punitive and driven by “distortions” about the country.
Ramaphosa’s office expressed frustration that “numerous attempts” to reset relations with Washington have been undermined by President Trump’s continued hostility, insisting South Africa “will never insult or demean another country” and expects the same respect in return.
Pretoria has urged G20 members to recommit to multilateralism and to ensure the forum continues operating on the basis of consensus and equality.
The developments mark a significant low in U.S.–South Africa relations, setting the stage for a deeper diplomatic rift ahead of the 2026 G20 cycle.
