Trump changes mind over US participation in G20 summit

The United States has sent an 11th-hour request to South Africa to attend the weekend G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg in what appears to be a reversal of US President Donald Trump’s boycott of the summit.

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa said a notice from the United States indicating “a change of mind about participating in one shape or the other in the summit” was “a positive sign”. Discussions on this are still ongoing. Ramaphosa said the notice was received late on Thursday, with less than 48 hours to go until the start of the summit.

Anna Kelly, US deputy press secretary, posted on X that this announcement was fake news.

However, a diplomatic note circulated in South Africa shows a request for Marc Dillard, the US Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy, to take part in the closing session, where South Africa will hand over the G20 presidency to the US.

Ramaphosa said although provision was made for an empty chair for the US in the summit hall, the discussions at this point were about the logistics, as the speaking order had already been established.

Late-hour request

Ramaphosa said another request for attendance by the US followed that of the request for embassy staffers to attend, implying that more high-level delegates could be flying in from the US.

The new request was received as Ramaphosa was in a trilateral meeting with the President of the European Council, António Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula van der Leyen, ahead of signing agreements on clean trade and raw materials.

“This comes really at the late hour before the summit begins,” Ramaphosa told journalists at a press conference following the meeting in the Sandton Convention Centre. “Therefore, we need to engage in those type of discussions to see how practical it is, and what it finally really needs. In a way, we see this as a positive sign.”

With reference to Trump’s decision not to send any US representatives to the first G20 on African soil, Ramaphosa said “boycott politics never work. It’s always best to be inside the tent than outside of the tent. The tent is the G20. All countries are here.”

Trump had said he would boycott the G20 due to his belief – wrongfully – that white people were being killed.

Seat is available

Ramaphosa said South Africa was favourably considering the request by the US to attend. “The United States is a member of the G20. They are the original member of the G20, so, they have the right to be here. And all we will be seeking to do is to look at the various practicalities, logistical and otherwise, for them to participate.

Representatives from the US Chamber of Commerce attended the B20 on Wednesday and Thursday, the high-level business summit ahead of the G20 summit.

(The Africa Report)