Trump says he may skip G20 summit in South Africa over policy disputes

Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he may not attend November’s G20 summit in South Africa, citing longstanding disagreements with Pretoria’s domestic and foreign policies.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said he was considering sending a representative instead.

“I think maybe I'll send somebody else because I've had a lot of problems with South Africa. They have some very bad policies,” he said.

The president has criticised South Africa’s land reform efforts and its case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. Trump in February signed an executive order to cut U.S. financial assistance to South Africa and in May confronted President Cyril Ramaphosa with false claims about white genocide and land seizures during a White House meeting.

Earlier this year, Secretary of State Marco Rubio boycotted a G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in South Africa. Pretoria currently holds the G20 presidency until November.

Relations between the two countries have been strained under Trump and former President Joe Biden. Washington has objected to South Africa’s stance on Gaza and its Black Economic Empowerment policies, which aim to redress historical racial inequalities.

Ramaphosa has urged Trump to attend the summit, rejecting U.S. claims that South Africa’s land policy will result in arbitrary confiscation of white-owned land.

The G20 meeting is due to take place in South Africa in November.

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