South Africa has confirmed a temporary withdrawal from active engagement in the G20 during the United States’ presidency, citing rising diplomatic tensions with Washington.
The decision follows a deterioration in relations after US President Donald Trump boycotted the 2025 G20 summit hosted by South Africa and reportedly warned Pretoria against future participation under US leadership.
South Africa’s Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, described the move as a pragmatic and short-term step aimed at preventing a broader diplomatic crisis.
According to him, the pullback does not amount to a complete exit from the G20 but reflects a strategic pause in active participation during a particularly strained period in bilateral relations.
Analysts have raised concerns that the decision could weaken Africa’s voice within the G20, noting that South Africa is the only permanent African member of the forum, while the African Union (AU) represents the continent at an institutional level.
Despite these concerns, the South African government has insisted that the AU remains well positioned to represent African interests within the G20 framework during the period of reduced South African engagement.
Pretoria has also reiterated its commitment to multilateral leadership, expressing confidence that it will fully re-engage with the G20 when the United Kingdom assumes the bloc’s presidency in 2027.
Officials say the temporary withdrawal reflects South Africa’s desire to safeguard its long-term diplomatic and economic interests while maintaining its role as a key advocate for Africa on the global stage.
