U.S.-South Africa Spat
https://link.foreignpolicy.com/view/644279f41a7f1f1e29de6831n1kmz.cjk/91515510
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks at a press conference during the G-20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Johannesburg on Feb. 20.Emmanuel Croset/AFP via Getty Images
South Africa kicked off the two-day G-20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Johannesburg on Thursday to address solidarity, equality, and sustainability around the world. But the absence of the White House’s top diplomat appeared to undermine international collaboration efforts and highlighted the Trump administration’s disdain for global institutions.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cited several reasons for not attending the key event, beginning with Pretoria’s choice of theme. “In other words: DEI and climate change,” Rubio wrote on X this month, adding that his job “is to advance America’s national interests, not waste taxpayer money or coddle anti-Americanism.” Since taking office, U.S. President Donald Trump has waged a war on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Rubio also stressed ongoing tensions between Washington and Pretoria as a reason for skipping the G-20 gathering. Last month, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a law that aims to redress historical racial inequalities in property ownership by allowing the government to seize land without compensation; more than 30 years after the end of apartheid, Black South Africans still own only a small portion of all farmland. In response, Trump signed an executive order on Feb. 7 cutting all U.S. aid and assistance to Pretoria over what he called its “unjust and immoral practices” against the country’s white minority. One of Trump’s top advisors, Elon Musk, was born in South Africa and has repeatedly accused Pretoria of anti-white racism.
The White House has also condemned South Africa’s ongoing genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, arguing that such actions are a veiled support of Hamas. Dana Brown, Washington’s acting ambassador to South Africa, will instead represent the United States at this week’s G-20 meetings.
Rubio’s absence was all the more apparent on Thursday following the arrival of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who is expected to use the G-20 event to counter European efforts to support Ukraine. The Trump administration has drifted further from its NATO allies and closer to Moscow in recent days, with Trump falsely suggesting this week that Kyiv is to blame for starting the war with Russia and calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator” on his Truth Social account.
“Geopolitical tensions and rising intolerance, conflict and war … threaten an already fragile global coexistence,” Ramaphosa warned during his opening speech. “As the G-20, we must continue to advocate for diplomatic solutions to conflicts.”
Next week, South Africa will host the G-20 finance ministers’ meeting, but once again, the United States’ top representative will not be there. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he won’t attend the event due to other commitments in Washington, prioritizing the United States’ America First policy at a time when the Trump administration has imposed tariffs on virtually all of its trading partners.