“Washington Reconsiders G20 Stance as Pretoria Warns Against Coercion”

South Africa has revealed that the US may now join the G20 summit after initially vowing to stay away. President Cyril Ramaphosa said discussions with Washington were underway, describing the shift as encouraging. However, he did not confirm whether President Trump would attend.
The controversy originated from Trump’s allegations that South Africa mistreats white farmers and Afrikaners. Pretoria dismissed the accusations and continued preparations for the landmark summit. Despite the dispute, South Africa maintained its commitment to a strong G20 focused on inclusive global growth.
Ramaphosa noted that the US message came just before the summit’s opening, leaving little time to work out details. He said the outreach signaled a move away from divisive diplomacy. The president reiterated his belief that boycotts hinder effective international cooperation.
Earlier, South Africa’s foreign ministry accused Washington of attempting to pressure the host nation. A diplomatic note from the US suggested the G20 should not issue any joint declaration without American presence. Pretoria argued that this undermined multilateral decision-making and could paralyze the forum.
With the US set to lead the G20 next year, South Africa urged Washington to demonstrate genuine commitment to global problem-solving. Ramaphosa said meaningful change requires broad participation rather than narrow political agendas.