South Africa has sharply responded after former US President Donald Trump claimed he would block the country from attending next year’s G20 summit in Miami, reigniting long-standing tensions in south africa-us diplomatic ties. President Cyril Ramaphosa called Trump’s remarks “regrettable” and rooted in misinformation.
Trump’s interactions with South Africa resurface
In a Truth Social post, Trump accused South Africa of refusing to hand over the G20 presidency to a US representative at the recent summit in Johannesburg. He wrote that South Africa would “NOT be receiving an invitation to the 2026 G20,” framing the decision as retaliation — a move that reflects trump’s interactions with south africa and his history of controversial comments about the country.
Although G20 members do not require invitations, they may be impeded through visa restrictions.
Trump boycotted the Johannesburg summit, reviving an old, widely debunked claim that South Africa’s white minority faces large-scale killings and land seizures — a narrative the South African government has repeatedly dismissed as lacking credible evidence.
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Ramaphosa: Handover was conducted properly
Ramaphosa clarified that the US delegation had chosen not to attend the Leaders Summit. He noted that, since the US was absent, South Africa formally handed over G20 presidency instruments to a US Embassy official at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.
This routine handover appeared to anger Trump further, even as South African officials emphasized compliance with G20 protocols.
Tariffs, tensions, and Trump’s trade disputes with South Africa
Trump’s post also included claims that South Africa was “not a country worthy of membership anywhere” and announced a halt to “all payments and subsidies.” The remarks echo past grievances linked to south africa tariffs trump administration and trump’s trade disputes with south africa, tensions that have often complicated existing south africa-us diplomatic ties.
South Africa said Trump’s comments were based on “misinformation and distortions,” stressing that efforts to reset relations had repeatedly been undermined by these statements.
G20 members urged to stand together
South African officials urged fellow G20 members to defend the integrity of the forum and safeguard the rights of all member states.
This year’s summit — the first ever hosted in Africa — ended with a joint declaration focused on multilateral cooperation, climate change mitigation, and addressing global inequality. The declaration passed despite objections from the US, which accused South Africa of exploiting its leadership role.
Additional reporting was contributed by Pumza Fihlani in Johannesburg.
This story was first reported by BBC News. Read the full article here.
