South Africa Stands Firm After U.S. G20 Boycott, Vows to Uphold Global Unity

South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU) has maintained a firm stance following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that no American officials will attend the upcoming G20 Summit in South Africa, citing alleged “human rights abuses” against Afrikaners.

Despite Trump’s accusations that white farmers are being “killed and slaughtered” and their land “illegally confiscated,” Pretoria insists the summit will proceed successfully under its central themes of “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability.”

South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, dismissed Trump’s claims as politically motivated and factually incorrect, stressing that crime in South Africa affects all racial groups.

He cited police statistics showing that between April 2020 and March 2024, a total of 225 people were victims of farm-related crimes; 53 white farmers and 101 farmworkers, mostly black.

“Claims of a so-called ‘white genocide’ are false and used for political expediency,” Lamola stated, adding that the GNU remains focused on promoting inclusive justice and social cohesion.

Officials say the U.S. boycott will have little impact on the G20’s success, noting that the forum operates by consensus and that South Africa continues to enjoy strong support from major partners including China and the European Union, both of which plan to send full delegations.

The boycott marks a further strain in US-South Africa relations, following recent trade disputes and Washington’s criticism of Pretoria’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

A senior South African diplomat, speaking anonymously, emphasized that Pretoria’s foreign policy remains independent and multilateralist:

“While we value our relationship with the United States, our actions are guided by national interest and international law. We will not allow political grandstanding to derail the global cooperation the G20 stands for.”

Despite Washington’s absence, South Africa says it remains committed to hosting a successful, inclusive, and globally relevant G20 summit.