JOHANNESBURG (AP) – The United States government has indicated that it has had a “change of mind” adn wants to participate at the group of 20 summit in South Africa in a reverse of its boycott, the South African president said Thursday.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the summit host country had received communication from the U.S. at “the 11th hour” and was now working on the logistics to accommodate the U.S.
READ MORE: At the first G20 summit held in Africa, leaders urge the rich world to do more against climate disasters
U.S. President Donald Trump had announced that his governance would boycott the two-day meeting of rich and developing nations in johannesburg that opens on Saturday. Trump has said the U.S. was boycotting over his claims that Ramaphosa’s government is violently persecuting a white minority.
Ramaphosa, who was speaking after a meeting with top European Union officials in Johannesburg, said communications from the U.S. had been received while he was at that meeting.
“The United States is a member of the G20, they are an original member of the G20, so they have the right to be here,” Ramaphosa told reporters. “And all we are seeking to do is looking at the practicalities … for them to participate.”
Ramaphosa said “hopefully” the U.S. seat at the summit would be occupied when it opens, but gave no indication who might represent the U.S. government.
READ MORE: Trump says U.S. will boycott G20 in South Africa,repeating claims about ‘abuses’ of white farmers
Trump had said that Vice President JD Vance would represent the U.S. before he announced the boycott.
Ramaphosa earlier Thursday had said that the meeting would issue a joint declaration despite the U.S. boycott and what he said was pressure from Washington not to issue one. He said the U.S.had sent diplomatic communication to South Africa advising that that “there should be no declaration adopted” at the summit as the U.S. was not there and therefore there would be no consensus.
Instead, the U.S. wants a toned-down statement from South Africa only to cap the summit, which is a culmination of more than 120 meetings that Africa’s most advanced economy has hosted as it took over the G20’s rotating presidency for this year.
Trump has repeatedly targeted South Africa for criticism since he returned to office. He held a tense meeting with Ramaphosa at the White House in May,when he confronted South Africa’s leader with baseless claims of widespread violence against Afrikaners in South Africa.
READ MORE: How Trump’s support for white South Africans led to a U.S. boycott of the G20 summit
The U.S. president has repeated his claims in the leadup to the G20 that Ramaphosa’s Black-led government is pursuing racist a
G20 Summit Proceeds Without US Portrayal as Global South Voices Gain Prominence
The G20 summit is underway in Brazil, marked by the notable absence of the United States. While Russia and Argentina – represented by delegations in lieu of Vladimir Putin and Javier Milei respectively – are participating, the US has chosen not to send a representative.
According to South African Ambassador to the G20, Xolisa Mabhongo, “The only country that is not in the room is the United States and, of course, is their choice not to be in the room.” https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/g20-summit-proceeds-without-us-representation-as-global-south-voices-gain-prominence
The absence of the US delegation comes as the summit sees increased prominence of voices from the Global South, focusing on issues like debt restructuring and climate finance. The G20, comprised of the world’s largest economies, aims to address major global challenges through international cooperation.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more facts becomes available.
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