The conflict between the United States and South Africa, which erupted after the G20 summit, has reached a critical point following statements by U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump threatened to not invite Pretoria to the G20 summit in Miami in 2026 and to cut all subsidies, prompting sharp responses from South Africa and international experts. Amidst this escalating diplomatic crisis, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has stepped in as a mediator, attempting to reconcile the parties and preserve the integrity of the G20 format.
Trump’s Accusations: Genocide and Sanctions
U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that South Africa would not receive an invitation to the 2026 G20 summit in Miami. Furthermore, he stated that the U.S. would immediately cease all payments and subsidies to South Africa, claiming the nation “has shown the world that it is not a country worthy of membership anywhere.”
In his statement, Trump presented two key grievances to explain his decision regarding the U.S. non-participation in the G20 summit hosted by South Africa:
☛ Violations of White Settlers’ Rights: Trump accused the South African government of refusing to acknowledge and address “the horrific human rights abuses to which Afrikaners are subjected.” He asserted that South African authorities are “killing white people” and “allowing their farms to be seized,” equating these actions to genocide. He also criticized “lying” media for ignoring the issue.
☛ Protocol Incident: Trump claimed that South Africa refused to transfer the G20 presidency to a U.S. embassy representative during the closing ceremony.
South Africa’s Response: Refutation and Call for Sovereignty
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed regret over Trump’s statements, calling them “misinformation and distortions.”
☛ Summit Assessment: According to Ramaphosa, “the G20-2025 South Africa Leaders’ Summit, attended by heads of state and government, was welcomed by all present as one of the most successful summits. The summit adopted a declaration that reaffirmed the undeniable strength and value of multilateralism in addressing the world’s most pressing challenges.”
☛ Protocol Refutation: Ramaphosa noted that “the United States was expected to participate in all G20 meetings during South Africa’s presidency but, unfortunately, chose not to participate in the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg.” Consequently, “the instruments of the G20 presidency were duly handed over to a U.S. embassy official at the headquarters of South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation, rather than personally at the summit, as is customary.”
Ramaphosa added that U.S. business and civil society representatives participated in G20 events, such as B20 and G20 Social, and South Africa values their involvement.
☛ Membership and Sovereignty: “South Africa is a sovereign constitutional-democratic country and does not appreciate another country insulting its membership and its worthiness to participate. South Africa respects the sovereignty of all countries and will never insult or demean another country, its standing, and its dignity in the community of nations.
South Africa will continue to participate as a full, active, and constructive member of the G20. We call on G20 members to reaffirm their ongoing work in a spirit of consensus-based multilateralism, with all members participating on an equal basis in all structures.” The South African President emphasized that his country is one of the founders of the G20, is a sovereign member in its own right, and “does not appreciate another country insulting its membership,” stated the South African President.
International Consensus: G20 as a Forum of Consensus
Photo: The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa |
International experts and U.S. allies have voiced opposition to Trump‘s threats to exclude South Africa from the G20, highlighting the forum’s rules and advocating for diplomacy:
☛ German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged to try and convince Trump to change his decision, emphasizing that formats like the G7 and G20 “should not be diminished without good reason.”
☛ Former Indian Foreign Minister Kanwal Sibal stated that the U.S. “has no authority to unilaterally exclude any member,” as the G20 is a consensus-based forum, not a “private gathering.” Sibal also condemned Trump for “abusing” the word “genocide” and for his “openly racist tone.”
☛ The F. W. de Klerk Foundation also issued a strong condemnation, calling Trump’s assertions of genocide and land grabs “completely false claims.” A statement from the Foundation, signed by Ismail Jusub, stressed: “Membership in the G20 is not determined by the host country… no state, including the U.S., has the right to unilaterally exclude another.”
NEWSROOM IN notes how the scandal unfolded:
For the first time in its history, the G20 summit, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, on November 22 and 23, 2025, did not feature official U.S. representatives. Despite the country’s flags being present among all participating nations, no U.S. representatives attended the summit. The absence of the American delegation was the culmination of a protracted conflict, involving both Donald Trump‘s political disagreements and disputes over diplomatic protocol.
The Conflict Begins: Trump’s Boycott and the Land Issue
The conflict began in early 2025 when U.S. President Donald Trump publicly declared he would not travel to South Africa. His dissatisfaction stemmed from land reform policies in South Africa, where, he claimed, land was being taken from the descendants of European colonists.
In September, Trump stated that U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance would go to Johannesburg in his stead.
Closer to the summit’s start, it became clear that even the Vice President would not attend. The U.S. decided to send a small delegation led by its acting chargé d’affaires in Pretoria.
Days before the summit, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa informed guests that Pretoria had received “notification from the United States… of a change of decision” regarding the boycott, and that Washington might now participate in the summit “in some form.”
These words, for some reason, did not sit well with Donald Trump’s team. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt publicly issued a sharp statement directed at President Ramaphosa. She called President Cyril Ramaphosa’s comment a “rant” that “neither the President nor his team appreciated.”
Leavitt’s harshness sparked strong indignation in South Africa. Ultimately, this escalated into a diplomatic scandal, prompting South Africa to impose a protocol barrier to demonstrate that it would not tolerate disrespect from the U.S.
Reason for Absence: Unacceptable Downgrading of Diplomatic Status
The final decision regarding the U.S. absence was made in Johannesburg, as South Africa considered the proposed delegation composition a serious breach of protocol. The U.S. is preparing to assume the G20 presidency from South Africa, and the “presidential gavel” transfer ceremony is an event of the highest political level.
An acting chargé d’affaires is the head of a diplomatic mission of the lowest rank, considered a junior, temporary representative.
Pretoria viewed this as a diplomatic snub. President Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, stated: “It is not acceptable for a head of state to transfer the presidency and leadership of such an important, leading forum… to a junior embassy official.”
Consequently, South Africa did not allow the U.S. delegation to be present unless its composition matched the event’s importance, which led to the de facto exclusion of the U.S. from the summit.
