SOUTH AFRICA SLAMS TRUMP’S G20 BAN
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South Africa criticized President Donald Trump’s choice to exclude the country from the 2026 G20 summit, saying the decision was punishing and based on false claims that hurt international teamwork.
The two nations have been disagreeing on many issues related to both their own country matters and how they handle international relations.
This disagreement became very clear when the US decided not to attend the G20 meeting in Johannesburg last week.
Trump said South Africa would not be invited to next year’s meeting, which he plans to host at his own golf resort in Miami.
Pretoria responded with a statement on Wednesday night, stating that South Africa is a legitimate member of the G20 and that its position in the group is determined by the other members.
The presidency said, “South Africa is a sovereign, constitutional democratic nation and does not accept being insulted by another country about its membership and value in global organizations,” and promised to keep taking part in all G20 meetings.
Trump mentioned what he called “terrible human rights abuses” against white farmers and South Africa’s decision not to pass on the G20 leadership to the US at the end of the Johannesburg summit.
South Africa transferred the G20 presidency on Tuesday during a quiet foreign ministry event, after declining to hand it over at the summit to a US embassy official, insisting that Washington should be represented at the proper level.
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.
Trump has meanwhile slapped 30 percent tariffs on South Africa, the highest in sub-Saharan Africa.
The G20 comprises 19 countries plus the European Union and the African Union, and accounts for 85 percent of the world’s GDP and two-thirds of its population.
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