South Africa has announced that the US may now participate in the upcoming G20 summit despite previously refusing to attend. President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed ongoing talks and welcomed the shift as a constructive sign. Whether President Trump will attend remains unclear.
The US boycott threat was sparked by Trump’s claims that South Africa discriminates against white communities, particularly white farmers. Pretoria dismissed the statements as false and reaffirmed its commitment to hosting the summit. Officials insisted that domestic politics in the US should not overshadow global cooperation.
Ramaphosa addressed the issue during a press briefing, saying the US had indicated its willingness to engage “in one form or another.” He noted that discussions were still underway to determine what such participation would entail. The president argued that boycotts undermine global governance and rarely achieve meaningful results.
Earlier tensions increased when Washington conveyed that no final G20 statement should be released without its approval. South African officials rejected the idea, calling it coercive and damaging to multilateralism. They warned that allowing such pressures would weaken the forum’s credibility.
Ramaphosa also emphasized that South Africa’s G20 priorities reflect the needs of developing nations, including energy transition and debt reforms. He urged all powerful economies, including the US, to support inclusive progress rather than creating institutional gridlocks.