President Donald Trump has announced that South Africa will be barred from next year’s G20 summit in Miami, escalating tensions that began when the US boycotted last week’s first-ever G20 meeting on African soil
On Monday, South Africa formally handed over the G20 presidency to the United States. However, the traditional transfer between heads of state was reduced to a symbolic ceremony at the country’s foreign ministry after President Cyril Ramaphosa declined a last-minute request to hand over the role to a US diplomat. Trump said this refusal prompted his decision to exclude South Africa.
“Therefore, at my direction, South Africa will NOT be receiving an invitation to the 2026 G20, which will be hosted in the Great City of Miami, Florida next year,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. He added: “South Africa has demonstrated to the world they are not a country worthy of membership anywhere,” and announced that the US would “stop all payments and subsidies to them, effective immediately.”
South Africa, a long-time advocate of multilateralism, has vowed to attend the Miami meetings regardless, stressing that its G20 membership is recognized by all other member countries. “South Africa is a sovereign constitutional democratic country and does not appreciate insults from another country about its worth in participating in global platforms,” the presidency said.
The dispute comes amid repeated attacks by Trump on South Africa over unverified claims of a “genocide” of white farmers, which he reiterated this week. The presidency described Trump’s actions as “regrettable” and based on “misinformation and distortions” about the country, despite Ramaphosa’s attempts to reset diplomatic relations.
Tensions between the two nations escalated further when Washington rescinded the visa of Naledi Pandor, a former South African foreign minister, shortly after Ramaphosa refused to hand over the G20 presidency to a US diplomat. At the recent G20 summit, Ramaphosa successfully led the remaining 19 members in signing a joint declaration, defying Trump’s demand that no declaration be made.
Analysts warn that Trump’s exclusion of South Africa could have broader economic implications. “There is a risk that the US will pressure other countries to weaken their trade, investment, commercial and diplomatic links with South Africa, lest they also be pushed out of the G20,” said Chris Hattingh, executive director of the Johannesburg-based Centre for Risk Analysis.
Despite the political standoff, US businesses continue to engage with South Africa. At the recent B20 — the business track of the G20 — representatives from companies including JPMorgan, Visa, and Citi signed a joint statement with South African counterparts to strengthen commercial ties. “Our job is to make sure that political leaders understand what they need to do to allow companies to pursue their business goals,” said Gary Litman, the US business sherpa, during the meetings.
The move marks a new chapter in the fraught US-South Africa relationship, highlighting the intersection of diplomacy, politics, and trade ahead of the Miami summit.
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