Evian, France – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will not attend the G7 summit in June, a decision prompted by sustained pressure from the United States, according to a statement from the South African presidency. The move underscores a deepening rift between Washington and Pretoria, fueled by disagreements over the war in Gaza, US tariffs, and accusations of discriminatory policies. The exclusion of Ramaphosa from the summit, traditionally an opportunity for outreach to key partner nations, represents a significant diplomatic setback for South Africa and a clear signal of escalating tensions with the US.
The South African presidency confirmed the withdrawal of the invitation on Thursday, with spokesperson Vincent Magwenya stating, “We’ve learnt that due to sustained pressure, France has had to withdraw its invitation to South Africa to attend the G7 meeting.” Magwenya further alleged that the US threatened to boycott the summit altogether if South Africa were included. “So, South Africa will not be participating in this G7 meeting,” he added. This incident highlights the growing willingness of the US to leverage its influence to isolate countries that diverge from its foreign policy objectives, particularly concerning its staunch support for Israel.
A History of Friction: From Tariffs to the ICJ
The current strain in US-South Africa relations didn’t emerge overnight. Under the Trump administration, a series of disputes arose, beginning with the imposition of substantial tariffs on South African exports. In 2023, then-President Trump levied a 30% tariff on most goods from South Africa, the highest rate imposed on any sub-Saharan African nation. While the US Supreme Court later overruled this policy, the damage to economic ties was already done. Beyond trade, Trump repeatedly clashed with Ramaphosa, publicly questioning South Africa’s land reform policies and making unsubstantiated claims about the persecution of white farmers.
More recently, the Biden administration has taken issue with South Africa’s decision to bring a case against Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), alleging genocide in Gaza. South Africa argues that Israel’s military actions in Gaza violate the Genocide Convention, a position that has drawn sharp criticism from Washington. The US has consistently defended Israel’s right to defend itself and has opposed international efforts to investigate alleged war crimes. This divergence on the ICJ case appears to be a central driver of the current diplomatic crisis.
The Ambassadorial Dispute and “Undiplomatic Remarks”
The tensions extend to the diplomatic front. In March 2023, Washington expelled South Africa’s ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool, after he criticized Trump’s “Produce America Great Again” (MAGA) movement. A replacement has yet to be named. Just this month, Pretoria summoned the new US ambassador, Brent Bozell, to address what it termed “undiplomatic remarks” regarding South African racial policies and judicial decisions. Bozell initially labeled the apartheid-era chant “Kill the Boer, kill the farmer” as “hate speech,” a statement that drew immediate condemnation in South Africa, where the chant is understood within the historical context of resistance to white-minority rule. Bozell later appeared to backtrack, stating the US government respected the independence of South Africa’s judiciary.
G7 Outreach and Future Engagement
The G7, comprised of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, frequently invites non-member nations to participate in its summits. This year, Brazil, India, and South Korea have been extended invitations. South Africa was previously invited to the G7 summit to be hosted by Canada in 2025. French President Emmanuel Macron personally extended the invitation to Ramaphosa during the G20 summit held in Johannesburg last year, a gesture now overshadowed by the US pressure. Despite the current setback, the South African presidency maintains that the incident will not harm its relationship with France, stating, “This will have no impact on the strength and close nature of our bilateral relationship with France.”
South Africa has also been excluded from the perform of the G20, with Washington holding the rotating presidency this year. This exclusion, following the Johannesburg summit, further illustrates the US’s willingness to limit engagement with Pretoria. Despite these challenges, South Africa remains committed to constructive engagement with the US, according to Magwenya. “The diplomatic relationship between USA and South Africa predates the Trump administration, and it will outlive the current White House term of office,” he asserted.
The presidency spokesperson also indicated that Ramaphosa is “getting closer to appointing the South African ambassador to the US who will form part of the team that’s currently engaging with US counterparts.” This appointment is seen as a crucial step in attempting to stabilize the strained relationship between the two countries.
The situation underscores the complexities of international diplomacy and the potential for disagreements over foreign policy to spill over into broader bilateral relations. The next key development will be the appointment of South Africa’s new ambassador to the US and the subsequent engagement with Washington to address the underlying issues driving the current tensions. The outcome of these discussions will be critical in shaping the future of US-South Africa relations.
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