Argentina's Javier Milei joins Donald Trump in boycotting South Africa’s G20 Summit

Argentina's president, Javier Milei, has joined United States president Donald Trump in boycotting next week’s G20 Summit in Johannesburg, marking a diplomatic setback for South Africa as it hosts the gathering for the first time under its G20 presidency. 

The Trump administration claims that South Africa 'persecutes white people' and 'seizes land', allegations discredited by global observers and dismissed by President Cyril Ramaphosa, who said the boycott was 'their loss' and insisted that 'boycott politics doesn’t work'.

Analysts say Argentina’s move reflects its growing financial and political alignment with the US following a recent $20 billion exchange-rate stabilisation bailout.

Professor Daniel Bradlow, a G20 Senior Fellow with the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), says the absence of the US and Argentina is unfortunate but not disastrous. 

"It's disappointing because obviously it would be good for South Africa if as many leaders as possible attended, but so be it. Without those leaders, it may be more possible to get a consensus amongst the leaders who do attend, and that might be for the benefit.

"I don't see why South Africa and other G20 countries should sit around waiting for the US to agree to participate. There's a lot that can be done and needs to be done without the US."

To listen to Bradlow in conversation with CapeTalk's Lester Kiewit, click below: