<\/p>\n
United States President Donald Trump appears unlikely to attend the upcoming G20 Leaders\u2019 Summit scheduled for November in Johannesburg, but South Africa\u2019s International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola said it is up to the US to confirm his attendance or absence.<\/span><\/p>\n During a media briefing on Monday, South Africa’s International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola addressed speculation about Donald Trump’s potential participation in the G20, highlighting the country’s role as the current president of the summit.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAll leaders of G20 member states are invited to attend,\u201d Lamola said. <\/span>\u201cBut it is up to the US government to confirm whether President Trump will attend the G20 summit in South Africa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n South Africa assumed the G20 presidency in December 2024, taking over from Brazil.<\/span><\/p>\n Lamola emphasised that the United States has continued to participate in several G20-related engagements, despite the uncertainty over Trump\u2019s travel plans.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIn various ministerial meetings, the US was represented by its charg\u00e9 d\u2019affaires,\u201d he said. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere has since been significant engagement, including a meeting in Washington where the US Secretary of the Treasury participated in discussions with Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n However, tensions between Washington and Pretoria have escalated in recent months, stemming in part from US tariffs and criticism of domestic South African legislation, including the controversial Expropriation Act.<\/span><\/p>\n Earlier this year, News reported that Trump has expressed strong opposition to the act and has posted inflammatory comments on his Truth Social platform, on X (formerly Twitter.)<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHow could we be expected to go to South Africa for the very important G20 meeting when land confiscation and genocide is the primary topic of conversation?\u201d Trump wrote. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThey are taking the land of white farmers and then killing them and their families. Is this where we want to be for the G20? I don\u2019t think so.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The post included a video clip of Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema debating land reform in Parliament, a clip the EFF claims was used to spread misleading narratives.<\/span><\/p>\n The recent departure of 49 Afrikaners who left South Africa for the United States might also escalate tensions between the two countries.<\/span><\/p>\n When asked about Russia\u2019s representation at the summit, Lamola noted that President Vladimir Putin did not attend the previous G20 summit in Brazil.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cRussia was represented by its minister of foreign affairs, and we expect that will continue in that context,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n He confirmed that Russia will participate in the Johannesburg summit.<\/span><\/p>\n Lamola also outlined South Africa\u2019s approach to extending invitations to non-G20 countries and organisations.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAll G20 members are invited, but South Africa, as the host, has the discretion to extend invitations to other countries, in consultation with the other member states,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n Among those invited are five of Africa\u2019s largest economies, Egypt, Nigeria, Algeria, Ethiopia, and Angola, which currently chairs the African Union, as well as countries such as Singapore, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates. <\/span><\/p>\n He said several United Nations agencies are also expected to participate.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIf there is any extension of an invitation to other countries, the president will consult with G20 members, and, if there is consensus, the invitation will be issued,\u201d Lamola said.<\/span><\/p>\n simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za<\/p>\n Politics<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" United States President Donald Trump appears unlikely to attend the upcoming G20 Leaders\u2019 Summit scheduled for November in Johannesburg, but South Africa\u2019s International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola said it is up to the US to confirm his attendance or absence. During a media briefing on Monday, South Africa’s International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola addressed speculation […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[868,5725,3554,12564,51,7070,10223],"class_list":{"0":"post-240034","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-politics","7":"tag-africa","8":"tag-attend","9":"tag-donald","10":"tag-g20","11":"tag-south","12":"tag-summit","13":"tag-trump"},"yoast_head":"\n