Washington / Johannesburg — The United States has announced a boycott of the upcoming Group of 20 (G20) Summit scheduled to be held in South Africa this month, triggering a rare diplomatic spat on the global stage. US President Donald Trump made it clear that neither he nor any American government official would attend the crucial international forum.
The summit is slated to take place in Johannesburg, South Africa, on November 22 and 23.
In his statement, President Trump justified the boycott by citing what he described as purported “human rights abuses” against white farmers (Afrikaners) in South Africa and the “illegal confiscation” of their land. He labeled the hosting of the G20 summit in South Africa a “total disgrace” and stated that no US official would attend as long as these alleged abuses continue.
This decision underscores the US administration’s prioritization of its specific political and ideological positions, even in major global economic forums. The announcement also cancels the attendance of the Vice President, who was initially scheduled to represent the US in the President’s absence.
The South African government has strongly refuted the allegations of racial persecution, while the US decision injects a significant geopolitical tension into the G20 proceedings.
