US-South Africa relations strain over G20 boycott

Mark Schiefelbein/Pool/AFP/Getty Images

|Published 1:15 PM ET, Friday February 7, 2025|

The United States has announced that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will not attend the upcoming G20 Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, scheduled for February 20-21, 2025. This decision follows President Donald Trump’s recent declaration to halt all future funding to South Africa, citing concerns over the country’s land reform policies.

The U.S. administration has expressed apprehension regarding South Africa’s new legislation that permits land expropriation without compensation in specific circumstances. Secretary Rubio criticized South Africa’s actions, stating, “South Africa is doing very bad things. Expropriating private property. Using G20 to promote ‘solidarity, equality & sustainability.’ In other words: DEI and climate change.” He emphasized that his role is to “advance America’s national interests, not waste taxpayer money or coddle anti … .”

In response, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed these criticisms in his State of the Nation address, asserting that South Africa “will not be bullied.” He highlighted the global rise of nationalism and protectionism, emphasizing the nation’s resilience and commitment to its policies.

This development marks a significant escalation in diplomatic tensions between the U.S. and South Africa, with potential implications for future international collaborations and the dynamics within the G20 framework.