As South Africa prepares to host foreign ministers from G20 nations, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced he will not attend, further straining ties between Washington and Pretoria.
Rubio’s decision comes amid growing tensions under President Donald Trump’s administration, with the top US diplomat accusing South Africa of pursuing “anti-American” policies.
Diplomatic Tensions Rise
This marks the first G20 foreign ministers’ meeting since South Africa assumed the rotating presidency of the group in December 2024. Rubio’s absence underscores what analysts describe as Trump’s indifference toward multilateral diplomacy.
“The G20 is a voluntary membership grouping. So if an important country like the United States looks like it’s not participating, that’s a negative sign,” said Professor Daniel Bradlow, a senior research fellow at the University of Pretoria’s Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship.
Trump Administration Cuts Aid to South Africa
The US-South Africa rift deepened last week after President Trump cut aid and assistance to Pretoria, citing concerns over a controversial land expropriation law that, according to him, disproportionately targets Afrikaners, the descendants of Dutch colonial settlers.
Bradlow suggested that China and other global powers could step in to fill the void left by the US. However, he also noted that middle powers, including South Africa, may use this as an opportunity to reshape global governance.
South Africa’s G20 Priorities Face Resistance from the US
South Africa is the first African nation to hold the G20 presidency, with its 2025 theme focused on “solidarity, equality, and sustainability”. The government has pledged to champion the interests of poorer nations, particularly in areas such as debt refinancing and climate change mitigation.
Rubio, however, has directly rejected these priorities, signaling a widening policy gap between Washington and Pretoria.
As the G20 foreign ministers’ summit kicks off, South Africa will have to navigate diplomatic uncertainties, balancing its leadership role on the global stage while managing tensions with the world’s largest economy.
