South Africa pushes back as US signals exclusion from 2026 G20 Summit: Video
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has challenged reports that the United States intends to exclude Pretoria from the 2026 G20 Summit in Miami, insisting his government has received no formal communication from Washington.
“We’ve just had the media publications. We are yet to receive it in writing, and we will deal with that when it comes,” he told reporters on Wednesday, emphasising that South Africa remains “a fully fledged member of the G20” and had “held a very successful G20”, widely recognised internationally.
Speaking in Pretoria, Ramaphosa dismissed suggestions that the alleged US move was causing diplomatic anxiety. “No, I don’t have sleepless nights,” he said. “All we want really is for South Africa to be treated as an equal sovereign country, one that respects others and fosters the success and prosperity of other countries.” His comments come amid escalating tensions between Washington and Pretoria following the US decision to boycott South Africa’s G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg earlier this year.
The US administration has argued that South Africa should be excluded from the G20’s core work despite its formal membership, citing economic stagnation, corruption and what Secretary of State Marco Rubio described as “race-based policies” that have undermined investor confidence and pushed skilled workers to leave. Washington has also accused Pretoria of mishandling its G20 presidency by blocking negotiations, ignoring attempts at consensus and prioritising political messaging over economic progress. In parallel, the US announced plans for a “New G20”, inviting Poland to join instead.
In response, presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said South Africa will suspend its participation in G20 activities until the presidency rotates to the United Kingdom in 2027. Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola added that Pretoria will not lobby for reinclusion, framing the year-long pause as a principled stand against what he called US unilateralism. The dispute is now shaping into a broader geopolitical test, one that could redefine how emerging economies assert their role within global governance structures.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
