Johannesburg – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has stated that the United States’ decision to boycott the upcoming G20 summit in Johannesburg will not impact the event’s proceedings or outcomes. The summit is scheduled to take place on November 22nd and 23rd.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, President Ramaphosa emphasized that the G20 meeting would proceed as planned, with numerous critical decisions set to be made, even in the absence of Washington’s delegation. “If they are not here, that is their prerogative. The G20 will proceed as scheduled, other leaders will be present, and decisions will be made to move the world forward,” he stated.
The US decision follows an announcement last week by former President Donald Trump stating that no representatives from his administration would attend the summit. Trump accused the South African government, without providing evidence, of persecuting white farmers. He posted on his Truth Social platform, “It is absolutely disgraceful that the G20 summit is being held in South Africa.” He added, “No US government official will attend as long as these human rights violations continue.” Trump also expressed his intention to host the 2026 G20 summit at his private golf resort in Miami, Florida.
The US boycott occurs as South Africa holds the rotating presidency of the G20, prior to handing it over to the United States next year. Tensions between the two countries have been escalating, particularly due to South Africa’s stance on the conflict in Gaza. Pretoria filed a complaint with the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of committing “genocide,” a move that has angered Washington.
Adding to the friction, Trump previously imposed a 30% tariff on South African goods, the highest among countries in southern Africa.
Meanwhile, Argentinian President Javier Milei has also announced his decision not to attend the summit. His country will be represented by Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno.
Responding to these actions, President Ramaphosa stated, “From my experience in politics, boycotts never really succeed. They are counterproductive.” He added, “It is always better to be inside the tent than outside it.”
