The United States has declared that it will not participate in the upcoming G-20 summit in South Africa, describing the event as “shameful.” U.S. President Donald Trump stated that no American government officials would attend the summit.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Friday, Trump cited ongoing human rights violations in South Africa, which he said contradict American values. He said this was the reason behind the U.S. decision to skip the G-20 summit.
Trump alleged that descendants of Dutch, French, and German immigrants, known as Afrikaners, are being killed, and that their lands and farms are being illegally seized. He also claimed that the country’s Black population faces racial persecution.
However, the South African government has denied these allegations. The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet issued any official response to Trump’s comments.
Trump stated, “Until these human rights violations in South Africa are addressed, no U.S. officials will participate in such international meetings held there.”
Meanwhile, the United States is set to take over the G-20 presidency from South Africa next year. Trump expressed his anticipation, saying he is looking forward to hosting the G-20 summit in Miami in 2026.
For context, the G-20 is the annual summit of the world’s largest economies, where key decisions on global economy, development, and geopolitics are made. The summit is held rotationally among member countries each year.
Source: Reuters.