President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday denounced as an “insult” former U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that he would block South Africa from attending next year’s G20 summit, which is scheduled to take place in the United States.
In a statement, the South African presidency reaffirmed that the country will remain a “full, active and constructive” participant in the G20.
The dispute follows South Africa’s hosting of a successful G20 summit last weekend the first ever held on African soil which the United States boycotted despite being the incoming G20 chair.
Washington had reportedly urged South Africa to hand over the presidency to an embassy official rather than through the standard diplomatic ceremony. Pretoria rejected the request, and the handover proceeded at South Africa’s Foreign Ministry headquarters after the summit concluded.
Officials noted that South Africa, as a G20 member, does not require an invitation to attend any G20 meetings.
The summit’s final declaration, which placed stronger emphasis on issues affecting developing nations, was left unsigned by the U.S. government. The White House objected particularly to the agenda’s climate-related provisions.
Since returning to office earlier this year, Trump has repeatedly targeted South Africa, portraying its foreign policy as hostile to American interests and criticizing efforts aimed at reversing the legacy of apartheid by expanding opportunities for Black South Africans.
