Johannesburg, South Africa – A diplomatic row has erupted between South Africa and the United States after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt rebuked President Cyril Ramaphosa for claiming the US had reversed its decision to boycott this weekend’s G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg. Leavitt accused Ramaphosa of "running his mouth" and stated that his comments were "not appreciated" by President Donald Trump's administration.
The sharp criticism came during a White House briefing on Thursday, following Ramaphosa's remarks to guests at a European Union leaders’ event in Sandton. Ramaphosa had stated that Pretoria had received "notice from the United States … about a change of mind" regarding the boycott, and that Washington would now attend the summit "in one shape, form or other."
However, the White House has insisted that there has been no alteration to its original position. Leavitt and other US officials clarified that the American government would only send a diplomatic representative to the hand-over ceremony when South Africa passes the G20 presidency to the United States. The US representative will not participate in summit discussions or negotiations.
Ramaphosa had told delegates that the US had made what he described as a late "change of mind" regarding its planned boycott. He said Pretoria had received last-minute communication from Washington indicating that the US would participate “in one shape, form, or another.”
Although he stressed that discussions were ongoing and that the exact form of US involvement remained unclear, Ramaphosa presented the development as positive.
“Boycott politics never work,” he said, adding that even an eleventh-hour signal from Washington was preferable to a total absence from the summit.
Ramaphosa also noted that the format of the US delegation was still uncertain because most world leaders were already arriving in Johannesburg. It is expected that officials from the US Embassy in Pretoria will represent the United States.
The US announced earlier this month that it would boycott the summit in protest over various issues, including human-rights concerns. South Africa has countered that such a boycott undermines multilateralism and the credibility of the G20, especially in the year the summit is being held on African soil for the first time.
Tensions between Pretoria and Washington have escalated since the initial boycott announcement. South Africa has maintained that the US "needs to be here" as a founding G20 member. However, Thursday’s exchange reveals growing irritation in Washington over what it views as Pretoria misrepresenting US intentions.
Ramaphosa has repeatedly asserted that South Africa “will not be bullied” over its role as G20 host, a stance he has used in response to criticism surrounding the summit and Washington’s decision to stay away from core discussions.
The diplomatic clash places South Africa in a delicate position as the host nation, particularly given the importance of maintaining strong international relations. The exchange highlights the complexities of navigating global diplomacy, especially when differing viewpoints and priorities come into play. The summit is still expected to proceed, but the disagreement casts a shadow over the event and raises questions about the future of US-South Africa relations. The world will be watching to see how this situation unfolds as the G20 Leaders’ Summit commences.
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