South Africa will transfer the G20 presidency to the United States “at an appropriate level,” Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said Saturday.
Tensions flared between the two nations after US President Donald Trump decided not to attend the G20 summit in Johannesburg on November 22-23.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa suggested a possible “change of mind” from the US, a claim the White House promptly denied, escalating diplomatic friction.
The summit opened Saturday without a US presence, despite the nation being South Africa’s successor in the G20 presidency, which typically requires a ceremonial handover.
Lamola said the US intends to conduct the handover through its embassy’s charge d’affaires, rather than at the head-of-state level, raising procedural concerns.
He emphasised that the handover should involve a properly designated US minister, ensuring respect and equivalence in line with diplomatic protocol and tradition.
“The handover will be conducted at DIRCO offices from Monday, respecting equivalence and maintaining strong bilateral relations,” Lamola assured, seeking to downplay any diplomatic strain.
Trump previously refused to send an American official, citing alleged human rights abuses against white Afrikaners – claims repeatedly dismissed by Pretoria as baseless.
Washington-Pretoria relations have fallen to their lowest point in years, reflecting deep disagreements over both foreign and domestic policy issues.
Founded in 1999, the G20 includes 19 countries and two regional organisations – the European Union and the African Union – coordinating global economic governance.
