Johannesburg Ready: G20 Proceeds as US Weighs Boycott End

The G20 summit preparations in Johannesburg have remained on track, culminating in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement that the US is reconsidering its earlier decision to boycott. The ongoing, last-minute discussions suggest a potential full attendance, though Ramaphosa remains unable to confirm the presence of President Donald Trump at the global gathering.
The boycott threat originated from President Trump’s public allegations concerning alleged discrimination, violence, and land reform policies impacting white Afrikaner farmers in South Africa. The South African government strongly refuted these claims, dismissing them as politically charged inaccuracies intended to interfere with the nation’s successful hosting of the G20.
Speaking with European counterparts, Ramaphosa welcomed the US engagement as a “positive sign” of diplomatic pragmatism. He maintained his stance that diplomatic boycotts are generally ineffective, advocating instead for a spirit of inclusive global cooperation to tackle shared challenges. South Africa’s G20 agenda is notably geared toward championing the economic and developmental needs of the developing world.
A major diplomatic flashpoint was the US diplomatic note suggesting that the G20 could not achieve a unified final statement without American presence. South Africa condemned this as outright coercion, arguing it was a direct assault on the principle of multilateral decision-making. Officials stressed the unacceptable nature of an absent power holding the summit’s final statement hostage.
Ramaphosa concluded by emphasizing South Africa’s commitment to achieving consensus among the G20 nations. He acknowledged the US’s future G20 presidency but was firm that the forum’s legitimacy is contingent on its inclusivity and collective decision-making, not on submission to the unilateral demands of one member state.