Global tensions rise as U.S. President Donald Trump announces South Africa’s exclusion from the 2026 G20 and pledges to withdraw all funding linked to the forum. Picture Credits: Daily Investor
By Aisha Zardad
South Africa – President Donald Trump has escalated tensions between Washington and Pretoria, announcing that South Africa will not be invited to the 2026 G20 summit in Miami and that the United States will halt all payments and subsidies to the country with immediate effect.
In a post on social media on Wednesday, Trump repeated unfounded claims of “genocide” against White Afrikaners and alleged land seizures without compensation. He also criticised South Africa’s handling of the recent G20 meeting held in the country.
“South Africa will NOT be receiving an invitation to the 2026 G20, which will be hosted in the Great City of Miami, Florida next year,” Trump wrote.
“South Africa has demonstrated to the World they are not a country worthy of Membership anywhere, and we are going to stop all payments and subsidies to them, effective immediately.”
Pretoria Responds: ‘Regrettable and Misguided’: President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office condemned Trump’s remarks, calling them “regrettable” and based on misinformation.
“It is regrettable that despite the efforts and numerous attempts by President Ramaphosa and his administration to reset the diplomatic relationship with the US, President Trump continues to apply punitive measures against South Africa based on misinformation and distortions about our country,” the presidency said.
South Africa maintains that it remains a full member of the G20 and emphasised that participation is based on multilateralism and consensus, not unilateral decisions.
G20 Tensions Have Been Building for Months: Trump’s relationship with Pretoria has declined sharply in recent months. In May, a diplomatic visit intended to repair ties went sideways when Trump blindsided Ramaphosa by playing a video montage promoting the debunked conspiracy theory that White South Africans are facing genocide.
The friction intensified during last weekend’s G20 meeting in South Africa, which the US boycotted. Washington warned Pretoria against adopting a leaders’ declaration, but South Africa proceeded anyway.
The tensions continued when South Africa refused a US request for chargé d’affaires Marc Dillard to represent Washington at the leaders’ summit and receive the ceremonial G20 handover. Instead, the handover was quietly conducted between diplomats at South Africa’s foreign ministry on Tuesday.
Possible Move to Remove SA From G20: South Africa had anticipated the possibility of Trump blocking its participation in the Miami summit. Officials remain concerned that the US may attempt to push for South Africa’s expulsion from the G20 entirely — a move that would require consensus among all member nations.
A similar process was followed in 2023 when the African Union was admitted as a full member of the group.
Aid Cuts Already Underway: It is unclear what additional funding cuts the US may implement. Trump previously suspended aid to South Africa through an executive order in March.
