South Africa has strongly criticized US President Donald Trump’s decision to exclude it from the 2026 G20 summit, calling the move punitive and based on distortions that undermine global cooperation.
The two countries have been at odds over a range of domestic and foreign policies. This disagreement came to a head after Washington skipped the G20 summit in Johannesburg last week. Trump announced that he would not invite South Africa to next year’s meeting, which he plans to host at his golf resort in Miami.
South Africa’s Defiant Response
In a statement late Wednesday, Pretoria asserted that South Africa is a G20 member in its own right and that its place in the bloc is decided by the 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 said, vowing to continue participating in all G20 meetings.
Trump had cited what he described as “horrific human rights abuses” endured by white farmers and South Africa’s refusal to symbolically hand off the G20 presidency at the end of the Johannesburg summit to the United States. On Tuesday, South Africa handed over the G20 presidency at a low-key foreign ministry event and insisted that the United States send a representative “at the right level.”
Broader Issues and Ongoing Disputes
Trump has singled out South Africa for harsh treatment on a number of issues since he returned to the White House in January, most notably on his false claims of a “white genocide” in the country. “It is regrettable that despite the efforts and numerous attempts by President (Cyril) Ramaphosa and his administration to reset the diplomatic relationship with the US, President Trump continues to apply punitive measures against South Africa based on misinformation and distortions about our country,” Pretoria said.
The two nations have also fallen out over issues including South Africa’s case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza at the International Court of Justice, the UN’s top court. Additionally, Trump has imposed 30 percent tariffs on South Africa, the highest in sub-Saharan Africa.
