Pretoria – President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed concern over comments made by United States President Donald Trump regarding South Africa’s role in the 2026 G20 meetings.
The matter surfaced after the G20 South Africa 2025 Leaders Summit, which took place in Johannesburg and brought together several heads of state and government. The gathering was widely regarded by participating nations as one of the most effective summits hosted in recent years, producing a declaration that reinforced the importance of global cooperation in dealing with shared challenges.
Because the United States did not attend the Johannesburg summit, South Africa formally handed over the G20 Presidency instruments to an official from the US Embassy at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.
According to the Presidency, South Africa has always supported the G20’s tradition of joint decision making and international cooperation. As a founding member, the country expected the US to take part in all scheduled engagements under its presidency. However, the US administration chose not to attend the Leaders Summit.
Despite Washington’s absence at the highest level, American businesses and civil society organisations were strongly represented at side events such as the B20 and the G20 Social. South Africa welcomed their participation.
Ramaphosa’s office stated that South Africa participates in the G20 in its own right and with the full agreement of other member nations. The Presidency noted that South Africa is a sovereign democratic state and does not condone public attacks on its legitimacy or role in global forums. The statement added that South Africa respects the sovereignty of all nations and expects the same courtesy in return.
The Presidency said South Africa will continue to take part fully in G20 processes and urged member states to maintain the forum’s tradition of cooperation, equality and consensus.
Discussion about this post