South Africa announced it will step back from next year’s G20 meetings after the United States, the host nation, chose not to invite it. Officials said they do not expect other member countries to lobby for its inclusion and are prepared to rejoin the group when the presidency passes to the United Kingdom the following year.
The decision follows a period of strained relations between Washington and Pretoria. The US had boycotted South Africa’s recent G20 summit and continues to criticize several of its domestic policies. South African officials dismissed claims made by US leaders regarding alleged discrimination within the country.
Despite the setback, South Africa emphasized the importance of preserving the G20’s role in global cooperation. It urged other members to express their concerns to the United States in support of multilateralism while ensuring the group’s work continues uninterrupted.
