South African President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed regret after US President Donald Trump announced that South Africa would not be invited to the 2026 G20 Summit in Miami. Trump cited alleged “horrific human rights abuses” as the reason for the exclusion.
President Ramaphosa said the decision is based on “misinformation and distortions” about South Africa. He added that despite his repeated efforts to strengthen diplomatic relations with the United States, punitive measures continue.
South Africa Successful G20 Presidency
“South Africa will continue to participate as a full, active and constructive member of the G20,” Ramaphosa said. “We call on members of the G20 to reaffirm its continued operation in the spirit of multilateralism, based on consensus, with all members participating on an equal footing.”
He highlighted the success of the G20 Summit hosted by South Africa earlier this year. “The summit produced a declaration that affirmed the indisputable strength and value of multilateralism in response to the most pressing challenges facing the world,” he said.
Trump Criticizes South Africa Over Human Rights
Earlier, Trump criticised the South African government on his social media platform Truth Social, claiming, “The United States did not attend the G20 in South Africa because the South African Government refuses to acknowledge or address the horrific Human rights abuses endured by Afrikaners and other descendants of Dutch, French, and German settlers.”
“To put it more bluntly, they are killing white people and randomly allowing their farms to be taken from them,” he added. Trump also accused major US media outlets of ignoring the issue.
US Withholds Invitation and Financial Aid
Trump announced that South Africa would not receive an invitation to the 2026 Miami G20 Summit. “At the conclusion of the G20, South Africa refused to hand off the G20 Presidency to a Senior Representative from our US Embassy, who attended the Closing Ceremony. Therefore, at my direction, South Africa will NOT be receiving an invitation to the 2026 G20,” he said.
He further stated that the US will halt financial contributions to South Africa, claiming the country “has demonstrated to the world that they are not a country worthy of membership anywhere, and we are going to stop all payments and subsidies to them, effective immediately.”
Ramaphosa Emphasizes South Africa’s Sovereignty & Multilateral Role
Ramaphosa reiterated that South Africa is a sovereign constitutional democracy. “South Africa respects the sovereignty of all countries and will never insult or demean another country or its standing and worthiness in the community of nations,” he said.
He also noted that US businesses and civil society organisations participated in G20-related activities in South Africa, such as B20 and G20 Social events, despite Washington’s absence at the summit.
Diplomatic Tensions & Global Implications
Experts say Trump’s decision could strain US-South Africa relations and affect the country’s role in global multilateral platforms. Analysts suggest that such diplomatic rifts may have wider implications for trade, investment, and cooperation between the two nations.
