The dispute between South Africa and the United States has escalated after Washington boycotted the G20 summit in Johannesburg, with South Africa objecting to a US plan for a junior embassy official to attend the closing ceremony marking the handover to next year's summit in Florida. The US has accused South Africa of racial discrimination against white Afrikaners, a claim South Africa vehemently rejects.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday that the US had changed its mind about participating and that talks were ongoing. He earlier stated that countries should not be bullied and that sovereignty must be respected. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt hit back, accusing Ramaphosa of 'running his mouth' and insisting the US ambassador or representative would only be present to receive the handover, not to participate in talks.
South Africa's foreign ministry spokesperson Chrispin Phiri responded: 'President will not be handing over to a junior embassy official.' Ramaphosa had previously said he would hand the G20 presidency to an 'empty chair' but would have preferred to give it directly to Donald Trump. The 2026 summit will be held at Trump National Doral Miami golf resort in Florida, owned by the Trump Organization.
Analysts said the US boycott was more likely to harm its global standing. Marisa Lourenço, a political risk consultant in Johannesburg, noted: 'China or India in the past might get criticised … Now the US is really being seen as the unreasonable one.' The G20 was founded in 1999 as a broader alternative to the G7 for the world's largest economies and the EU.
South Africa, the first African country to preside over the G20, has focused on issues such as high public debt, critical minerals for green technologies, financing a just energy transition, and improving disaster resilience. Ramaphosa commissioned reports on Africa's debt and global inequality, which found that the wealthiest 1% captured 41% of wealth generated from 2000 to 2024, while the poorest 50% received just 1%. The reports recommended an independent body to assess inequality policies, backed by Ramaphosa, Brazil's President Lula, and Spain's Prime Minister Sánchez.
