Ramaphosa Warns Against “Bullying” as U.S. Boycotts South Africa’s G20 Summit

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday delivered a pointed rebuke to the United States, insisting that no nation should be allowed to “bully” another, as Washington prepares to boycott this weekend’s G20 summit in South Africa.

The U.S. has also asked Pretoria not to issue the traditional joint leaders’ communiqué after the meeting, which is expected to host representatives from about 40 countries.

Speaking at a pre-summit event in Johannesburg, Ramaphosa said:
“It cannot be that a country’s geographical location or income or army determines who has a voice and who is spoken down to. It basically means there should be no bullying of one nation by another.”

Relations between South Africa and the United States have deteriorated in recent months over both foreign policy and domestic disagreements.

In a formal note, the U.S. embassy confirmed it would not be attending, arguing that South Africa’s G20 priorities “run counter to the US policy views and we cannot support consensus on any documents negotiated under your presidency.”

Pretoria pushed back strongly. Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola insisted that South Africa would proceed with a leaders’ declaration regardless of Washington’s stance.

“We will not be told by anyone who is absent that we cannot adopt a declaration or make any decisions at the summit,” he said. “If we do not end up with a declaration, it will not be on the basis that someone who is absent told us.”

South Africa has adopted “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability” as the theme of its G20 presidency. The group includes 19 countries and two regional blocs—the European Union and the African Union—representing 85% of global GDP and two-thirds of the world’s population.

Key agenda items include improving disaster resilience, addressing debt challenges for low-income nations, financing a just energy transition, and leveraging critical minerals for sustainable, inclusive growth.

This year marks the first time the G20 summit will be hosted on African soil.

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