South Africa denounces Trump’s decision to bar it from 2026 G20 summit, calling the move punitive and based on misinformation about white farmers
JOHANNESBURG: South Africa has strongly condemned US President Donald Trump’s decision to exclude it from the 2026 G20 summit.
Pretoria described the move as punitive and driven by distortions that undermine global cooperation.
The diplomatic clash escalated after Washington skipped last week’s G20 summit in Johannesburg.
Trump announced South Africa would not be invited to next year’s meeting, which he plans to host at his Miami golf resort.
South Africa’s presidency responded that the country is a G20 member in its own right whose participation is determined by other members.
“South Africa is a sovereign constitutional democratic country and does not appreciate insults from another country about its membership and worth in participating in global platforms,” the presidency stated.
Trump cited what he called “horrific Human Right Abuses” against white farmers and South Africa’s refusal to symbolically hand off the G20 presidency.
South Africa instead conducted the handover at a low-key foreign ministry event rather than to a US embassy representative at the summit.
The presidency expressed regret that diplomatic reset efforts with the US have failed due to Trump’s punitive measures based on misinformation.
Trump has repeatedly targeted South Africa since returning to office, notably with false claims of “white genocide.”
The nations also disagree over South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
Trump has imposed 30% tariffs on South Africa, the highest rate in sub-Saharan Africa.
The G20 includes 19 countries plus the European Union and African Union, representing 85% of global GDP and two-thirds of the world’s population. – AFP
