Trump Slams South Africa's G20 Membership, Vows to Skip Summit

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and US President Donald Trump.

By Mpho Dube, Editor-in-Chief of The Azanian

US President Donald Trump has ignited a diplomatic row with South Africa, announcing that he will not attend the upcoming G20 summit in Johannesburg. Trump claimed that South Africa's domestic and foreign policies have undermined its standing among major economies, and therefore, "shouldn't even be in the G's anymore".

The decision comes amid strained relations between the US and South Africa, partly due to South Africa's non-aligned stance on global conflicts and its close ties with Russia and China through the BRICS bloc. Trump's comments are likely to further complicate relations between the two countries.

Trump's criticism of South Africa's policies is not new. He has previously expressed concerns over the country's land expropriation laws, which he claims target white farmers. South Africa's government has insisted that the law will not be used to arbitrarily confiscate white-owned land.

Despite Trump's decision not to attend, the G20 summit is set to proceed as scheduled from November 22-23. Vice President JD Vance will lead a US delegation to the summit, which is expected to focus on global economic reform, equitable growth, and the voice of the Global South in global governance.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has slammed Trump for his comments, accusing him of spreading disinformation about South Africa. "In a clear indication of a man who has lost all sense and touch with reality, Donald Trump has decided to return to his disinformation campaign against South Africa," the EFF said in a statement.