JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered a sharp rebuke to the United States on Thursday, condemning international “bullying” as Washington boycotts South Africa’s historic G20 summit this weekend.
Speaking to civil society delegates at a pre-summit event, Ramaphosa made a thinly veiled reference to American pressure tactics ahead of 22-23 November gathering in Johannesburg.
“It cannot be that a country’s geographical location or income or army determines who has a voice and who is spoken down to,” the South African president said. “It basically means there should be no bullying of one nation by another.”
The diplomatic clash escalates as the United States not only refuses to attend the summit but also demands that South Africa abandon the traditional joint leaders’ statement that typically concludes G20 meetings.
In a formal note to Pretoria, the US embassy stated that South Africa’s G20 priorities “run counter to the US policy views and we cannot support consensus on any documents negotiated under your presidency.”
Around 40 countries are expected to participate in the weekend summit, marking the first time a G20 meeting has been held on African soil.
Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola fired back at American demands, vowing that South Africa would proceed with a leaders’ declaration regardless of US objections.
“We will not be told by anyone who is absent that we cannot adopt a declaration or make any decisions at the summit,” Lamola said following Ramaphosa’s address. “If we do not end up with a declaration, it will not be on the basis that someone who is absent told us.”
South Africa’s response to the US embassy was equally firm, stating that America’s absence from the event “negated its role” in the proceedings.
The diplomatic standoff represents the latest low point in US-South Africa relations, which have deteriorated significantly this year over various foreign and domestic policy differences.
The tension threatens to overshadow South Africa’s G20 presidency, which has adopted the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability.”
Despite the controversy, South Africa is pressing ahead with an ambitious agenda focusing on:
- Strengthening disaster resilience
- Improving debt sustainability for low-income countries
- Financing a “just energy transition”
- Harnessing critical minerals for inclusive growth and sustainable development
The G20 comprises 19 countries plus two regional bodies—the European Union and the African Union. Together, its members represent 85 percent of global GDP and approximately two-thirds of the world’s population.
The historic African summit proceeds amid global economic uncertainty and growing tensions between major powers, with South Africa determined to assert its leadership despite American opposition.
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