President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed a significant diplomatic development: the US is holding last-minute talks to reverse its G20 boycott, a move that could ensure full representation at the summit despite earlier policy disagreements. This potential shift is a win for South Africa’s effort to focus the G20 on the African agenda. Ramaphosa remains unable to confirm the personal presence of President Donald Trump.
The initial diplomatic friction was fueled by President Trump’s claims of discrimination and violence against white Afrikaner farmers, linked to South Africa’s land reform efforts. The South African government consistently denied these claims, dismissing them as factually baseless and politically motivated attempts to interfere with its G20 presidency.
Addressing European leaders, Ramaphosa framed the US engagement as a welcome “positive sign” and a testament to the ineffectiveness of boycotts. He stressed the importance of inclusive global cooperation, reaffirming that the G20 agenda is strategically focused on advancing the economic needs and developmental challenges of developing economies globally.
The controversy had a flashpoint in the US diplomatic note warning that the G20 would be unable to produce a unified final statement without American attendance. South Africa fiercely condemned this as an act of coercion, asserting that it violated the spirit of multilateral decision-making. Officials argued against setting a dangerous precedent for an absent nation to dictate outcomes.
Ramaphosa concluded by emphasizing South Africa’s dedication to achieving consensus among G20 members. While acknowledging the US’s future G20 presidency, he stressed that the forum’s credibility is rooted in its inclusivity and adherence to collective agreement, not on yielding to the unilateral pressure of any single state.