South Africa has condemned US President Donald Trump’s decision to exclude the nation from the 2026 G20 summit, denouncing the move as “punitive” and based on “misinformation and distortions” about the country.
The diplomatic clash escalated after Washington boycotted last week’s G20 summit in Johannesburg, with Trump announcing that South Africa would not be invited to next year’s meeting, which he plans to host at his Miami golf resort.
In a strongly worded statement issued late on Wednesday, South Africa’s presidency rejected Trump’s authority to unilaterally exclude G20 members, asserting that the country’s participation “is decided by the other members” of the group.
“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 declared, vowing to continue attending all G20 meetings.
Trump justified the exclusion by citing what he termed “horrific Human Right Abuses” against white farmers and South Africa’s refusal to ceremonially transfer the G20 presidency to the United States during the Johannesburg summit.
The snub occurred when South Africa insisted that Washington be represented “at the right level” for the handover ceremony. The country eventually transferred the presidency Tuesday during a low-key foreign ministry event to a US embassy representative.
The G20 dispute represents the latest flashpoint in deteriorating US-South Africa relations since Trump returned to office in January. The president has repeatedly made false claims about a “white genocide” in South Africa, while imposing 30 percent tariffs on the country — the highest levied against any sub-Saharan African nation.
Relations have further soured over South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza, a legal action that has drawn fierce criticism from the Trump administration.
“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 G20, comprising 19 countries plus the European Union and African Union, represents 85 percent of global GDP and two-thirds of the world’s population, making South Africa’s potential exclusion a significant diplomatic and economic concern for the continent.
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