Ramaphosa Defies US Pressure, Declares Trump Forfeited G20 Voice
South Africa’s presidency of the G20 is facing a significant challenge as the United States attempts to undermine the summit’s outcome following President Donald Trump’s decision not to attend, with officials in Pretoria asserting that Washington has no standing to influence discussions.
The escalating tensions stem from a diplomatic note delivered by the US to South Africa on November 15th, warning against the issuance of a G20 declaration without US participation. The note, reported by the Sunday Times, explicitly stated that any outcome document would be framed as a “Chair’s Statement” – signaling a lack of consensus – should the US not agree to its terms. This move is widely viewed as a last-ditch effort to diminish the impact of the summit hosted by South Africa.
In a strong rebuke, President Ramaphosa’s office responded that Trump’s absence effectively disqualifies him from having a say in the G20’s deliberations. “We have to respect the entire G20 process and the other countries who have made an effort to be here and tirelessly work on finding consensus,” explained Vincent Magwenya, Ramaphosa’s spokesman, in an interview with Business Day. “Therefore, we are not going to obsess over one country. It’s not the G1 or the G US. It’s the G20, plus the EU and the AU. We have to respect the other members and the G20 process and focus on a successful outcome that reflects the consensus reached with those present.”
The South African government also suggested the summit presents an opportunity to resist what it perceives as bullying tactics related to US economic policy. “Sherpas are hard at work to finalise a leaders’ declaration,” Magwenya added, noting that ongoing negotiations since Saturday night demonstrate a commitment to reaching a consensus.
The possibility of a G20 declaration remains uncertain. While not legally binding, such a document carries significant political weight. Leaders now face a choice: stand united against perceived US pressure or avoid potentially antagonizing the Trump administration. South Africa has historically adopted a diplomatic approach towards the US president, hoping to demonstrate the inaccuracies of his criticisms through direct engagement.
Despite the political friction, US businesses appear to maintain a strong interest in Africa and South Africa. Mxolisi Mgojo, president of Business Unity SA (Busa) and B20 co-chair, stated on Wednesday that US businesses “do not seem to share Trump’s views.” He emphasized the importance of business continuity, adding, “politicians come and go… [US] business sees Africa as the next frontier… Africa is a growth area for them.” This sentiment was underscored by the presence of the US Chamber of Commerce at the B20 summit in Sandton, even as Trump reiterated his call to boycott the G20 leaders’ summit.
Pretoria has adopted a firm stance, signaling it will not travel to the US to formally hand over the G20 presidency should the US fail to participate in the handover process. International relations minister Ronald Lamola stated that South Africa would proceed with issuing a declaration regardless, leaving it to the US to determine its future engagement with the group.
While publicly projecting confidence, some South African ministers privately expressed concerns about achieving a consensus declaration. Finance minister Enoch Godongwana explained that the summit could result in either a declaration or a chairperson’s statement, clarifying that the latter would not necessarily indicate a failure of South Africa’s agenda, as similar outcomes have occurred under other presidencies.
The situation highlights a growing divergence in perspectives between the US administration and key international partners, even as economic ties remain strong. The coming days will be critical in determining whether the G20 can navigate these challenges and deliver a unified message on global economic cooperation.
