South Africa to Temporarily Withdraw from G20 Following US Exclusion

South Africa has announced it will sit out the 2026 G20 meetings after being excluded by the United States, which recently took over the group’s year-long presidency. The decision comes amid escalating diplomatic tensions between Washington and Pretoria.

The US cited allegations that the South African government discriminated against the white Afrikaner minority as a reason for the exclusion. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that Pretoria would not be invited to the US-led G20 meetings. Analysts describe the move as a significant escalation in the bilateral dispute.

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration has expressed disappointment but indicated that it does not expect other G20 members to lobby on South Africa’s behalf. Presidential spokesman Vincent Magwenya said the country would “take a commercial break” and return to participation once Britain assumes the G20 presidency next year.

Magwenya emphasized that South Africa’s absence does not signal a permanent withdrawal from the group. “We remain committed to the G20 and will re-engage fully when the presidency changes,” he said. Officials also expect other members to register concerns about the US decision in defense of multilateralism.

The Johannesburg summit in November 2025, the first G20 meeting held in Africa, attracted world leaders from both G20 and non-G20 countries. However, the event was boycotted by US President Donald Trump, highlighting growing tensions between the two nations.

The G20 consists of the world’s largest economies, along with regional blocs including the European Union and African Union. Collectively, the group accounts for approximately 85% of global GDP and two-thirds of the world’s population, making participation highly strategic for any member nation.

South Africa’s diplomatic tensions with the US have deepened over the past year. The Trump administration expelled the country’s ambassador in March and imposed 30% trade tariffs, which Pretoria is still seeking to overturn through negotiations and international advocacy.

Despite the setback, South Africa remains committed to multilateral engagement and has urged other nations to uphold the principles and objectives of the G20. Officials reaffirmed that the country views the temporary pause as a strategic step, not a retreat from global economic discussions.