South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday claimed that the United States had signalled a possible reconsideration of its boycott of the G20 summit in Johannesburg—a claim that Washington immediately rejected as “fake news”, deepening diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
US ‘may participate in some form’, says Ramaphosa
Speaking to reporters ahead of the summit, Ramaphosa said Pretoria had received a last-minute communication from Washington indicating the possibility of limited participation.
“We have received notice from the United States … about a change of mind, about participating in one shape or form or other in the summit,” Ramaphosa said. He added that South Africa was still discussing the practicality and implications of such a shift given how late the communication had arrived.
The President called the development a “positive sign”, arguing that “boycott politics never work” and that the world’s largest economy should be present. “The United States, being the biggest economy in the world, needs to be here,” he said.
Washington pushes back strongly
The White House sharply contradicted Ramaphosa’s statement, accusing him of misrepresenting US intentions. A senior US official dismissed the claim as “fake news” and insisted that the United States was not reversing its decision to boycott substantive G20 discussions.
“The chargé d’affaires in Pretoria will attend the handover ceremony as a formality, but the United States is not joining G20 discussions,” the official said.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed the same position, saying: “The United States is not participating in official talks at the G20 in South Africa.” She criticised Ramaphosa’s earlier remarks on the US and President Donald Trump. “I saw the South African president running his mouth a little bit … and that language is not appreciated by the president or his team,” she added.
Leavitt clarified that acting ambassador Marc D. Dillard would only be present for the ceremonial handover and would “not participate in official talks”.
Pretoria rejects pressure over G20 declaration
Ramaphosa insisted that Washington’s boycott would not derail the summit’s progress. He said discussions on the final G20 declaration were advancing well.
“We will have a declaration. The talks are going extremely well,” he said. “We will not be bullied. We will not agree to be bullied.”
South African officials said the United States had earlier warned that it could not support consensus on any G20 documents negotiated under Pretoria’s presidency because South Africa’s agenda “run counter to the US policy views”.
Rising tensions amid disputes over discrimination allegations
The US boycott comes amid growing diplomatic friction during Trump’s second presidential term. Washington has accused South Africa of discriminating against white citizens and has echoed claims of violence against white Afrikaner farmers—assertions widely rejected in South Africa.
Relations have further deteriorated following sharp US tariffs on South African goods, the expulsion of Pretoria’s ambassador from Washington, and a US boycott of the COP30 climate talks in Brazil.
According to South African officials, the United States also urged Pretoria not to pursue a joint G20 declaration, arguing that consensus would be impossible without US participation.
G20 summit focuses on African priorities
Johannesburg is hosting the G20 for the first time, marking a milestone for the African continent. The summit’s agenda includes debt relief for low-income nations, a just energy transition and securing critical minerals.
While several world leaders—including Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Javier Milei—skipped the summit, they sent delegations to represent their countries.
G20 ambassador Xolisa Mabhongo described the diplomatic landscape succinctly: “The only country that is not in the room is the United States and, of course, it is their choice not to be in the room.”
Business ties remain strong despite political strain
Despite the political standoff, economic ties between the two nations remain significant. More than 600 American companies operate in South Africa, and the US Chamber of Commerce reiterated its commitment to collaboration.
“The US Chamber of Commerce will use our B20 leadership to foster international collaboration,” chamber president Suzanne Clark said.
Conclusion
As the summit proceeds without active US participation, the divergent narratives from Pretoria and Washington highlight deepening tensions. Whether backchannel discussions will alter the American stance remains unclear, but South Africa maintains that the G20 process will continue with or without the United States.