South Africa has announced that it will temporarily step back from G20 activities throughout 2026 after the United States formally barred its participation under Washington’s upcoming presidency.
The move follows escalating tensions between Washington and Pretoria, which intensified during South Africa’s 2025 G20 chairmanship, an event the US largely boycotted, including the November leaders’ summit in Johannesburg.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday reaffirmed that South Africa would not be invited to the 2026 G20 meetings hosted by the United States.
Rubio repeated long-standing criticisms of Pretoria’s foreign and domestic policies, including debunked allegations that the South African government discriminates against the white Afrikaner community.
Responding to the exclusion, Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said South Africa would not attempt to force its way into next year’s engagements nor expect other member states to lobby on its behalf.
“For now, we will take a commercial break until we resume normal programming,” Magwenya wrote on social media, suggesting Pretoria will return to the table when the presidency rotates to the United Kingdom in 2027.
The G20, comprising the world’s major economies along with the African Union and European Union, represents about 85% of global GDP and nearly two-thirds of the world’s population.
South Africa’s 2025 summit, the first ever held on African soil, drew participation from several global leaders, including non-member states. However, the absence of US President Donald Trump shows deepening diplomatic rifts.
Magwenya told the Sunday Times that South Africa does not anticipate a coordinated boycott of the US presidency by other G20 nations. He warned that such a move could undermine the forum’s work.
“In fact, it would be unhelpful if the entire year goes to waste and the G20 collapses,” he said.
Still, he added that Pretoria expects other members to “register their displeasure with the US in defence of multilateralism and the spirit and purpose of the G20.”
Relations between South Africa and the US have deteriorated in recent months. Washington expelled South Africa’s ambassador earlier this year and imposed 30% tariffs on South African exports, measures Pretoria is actively contesting.
South Africa says it will “take a break” from G20 after US blocks participation
