The United States boycotted South Africa’s presidency over the G20 in 2025, including skipping its November summit in Johannesburg. Now the US has the G20 chair for 2026, Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that South Africa would not be invited.
He cited complaints about discrimination against the white Afrikaner minority. Experts call those claims unfounded.
Additionally the Trump administration expelled South Africa’s ambassador in March. It also imposed 30 percent trade tariffs on the country. Pretoria seeks to reverse these measures.
South Africa’s Response
South Africa announced its plan to skip the 2026 G20 meetings. Presidential spokesman Vincent Magwenya shared this decision on social media. He described it as a “commercial break” until normal programming resumes. The country will return in 2027 when Britain takes over.
Furthermore South Africa does not expect other G20 nations to boycott the US presidency. It also avoids asking them to lobby for inclusion. However Magwenya urged members to express displeasure with the US. This defends multilateralism and the G20’s purpose.
Reasons Behind the Conflict
Tensions stem from policy differences. The US criticizes South Africa’s stances on various issues. For example, Pretoria’s foreign policies have clashed with Washington’s views. These disputes escalated during South Africa’s G20 hosting.
Moreover the G20 represents major economies. It includes the European Union and African Union. The group covers 85 percent of global GDP and two-thirds of the world’s population. Johannesburg marked Africa’s first summit.
Future Implications
This break could strain global cooperation. If nations follow suit, the G20 might weaken. Magwenya warned against letting the year go to waste. He fears a collapse of the forum.
Nevertheless South Africa remains committed to the G20. It plans a strong return in 2027. Observers watch how other countries respond. This situation demonstrates the challenges in international diplomacy.
