US treasury secretary withdraws from G20 finance ministers' meeting in SA
US Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent, who had previously confirmed his attendance, posted on X on Thursday, saying that due to obligations in Washington, he would not be coming for the gathering next week.
US investor and hedge fund manager Scott Bessent testifies before the Senate Finance Committee on his nomination to be Secretary of the Treasury, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on 16 January 2025. Pictures: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP
JOHANNESBURG - United States (US) Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent on Thursday morning announced that he would no longer attend the G20 finance ministers' meeting in South Africa.
Bessent, who had previously confirmed his attendance, posted on X, saying that due to obligations in Washington, he would not be coming for the gathering next week.
He said that an official from Treasury would take his place.
I will not attend the G20 Summit because of obligations in Washington DC. A Sr. Treasury Official will attend in my place. I am in regular contact w/ my global counterparts working to advance Pres. Trump’s agenda. I look forward to seeing them in DC for the Spring IMF/WB Meetings
— Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) February 20, 2025
Just hours after South Africa’s Minister of International Relations Ronald Lamola told the SABC that Bessent had confirmed his attendance for next week’s meeting, Bessent announced that he would not be coming.
This is the second secretary from the US to reject an invite to South Africa.
Bessent, while measured in his posture, is following in the footsteps of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who relied on misinformation about South African affairs in making his decision.
Bessent said he remains in regular contact with his global counterparts, working to advance US President Donald Trump’s agenda.