President Cyril Ramaphosa will not transfer the G20 presidency to a representative from the US embassy after President Donald Trump refused to attend the Johannesburg summit, the South African government announced on Saturday.
The Trump administration boycotted the summit, which ends on Sunday, and informed Pretoria that Washington would be represented by the chargé d’affaires from the US embassy. The United States is set to assume the G20 presidency in 2026.
Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola told reporters that Ramaphosa would not hand over the role to a diplomat of that level.
“The United States is a G20 member. If they want to be represented, they can send someone at the appropriate level,” Lamola said. Acceptable representatives, he added, include the head of state, a minister, or a special envoy appointed by the president.
If the US chooses not to send a higher-ranking official, the handover could instead occur at government offices between officials of equivalent rank.
Trump’s absence continues a pattern of withdrawing from multilateral engagements and comes amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Pretoria, including disputes over US claims that white South Africans face persecution.
Ahead of the summit, the US embassy informed South Africa that the meeting’s priorities conflicted with US policy positions. It also indicated that no joint declaration could be issued due to the United States’ non-participation and objections.
Despite the US stance, nearly two dozen world leaders adopted a declaration on Saturday calling for peace in Ukraine, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The document also emphasized protecting global supplies of critical minerals.
“We cannot be held back by one country,” presidential spokesman Vincent Magwenya said.
AFP
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