G20 row seals US-SA tension after Washington snubbed Pretoria

Persisting tensions between Pretoria and Washington saw South Africa miss out on the first G20 meeting in the United States (US), in what was expected to be the first of many snubs from the bloc’s meetings.

In an expected move, South African leaders and diplomats were excluded from the first major G20 meeting under the US presidency earlier in December.

This came after South Africa wrapped up what has largely been described as a successful G20, and handing over to the US to chair in 2026.

From as early as February, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio refused to attend the G20 foreign ministers meeting held in Johannesburg, echoing US President Donald Trump’s comments about "bad things" happening in South Africa.

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The criticism sparked concerns about the deepening tensions between the two countries, with fears of diplomatic and economic consequences.

The US continued to maintain a low-level delegation at the various meetings held across the country.

Asked a number of times during the year about his participation at the leaders' summit, Trump appeared "hot and cold" about a possible trip to Johannesburg.

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s lobbying was unsuccessful, with Trump essentially barring all US officials from attending the meeting of global leaders in South Africa.

But at the 11th hour, the US attempted to send a low-level team from the embassy for the ceremonial G20 handover process, to which South Africa refused.

The bloc’s member states adopted a leaders' declaration on day one of the summit, and arrangements were later made for a watered-down handover in Pretoria.

It was understood Trump’s move to snub South Africa from the bloc’s meetings had been met with some pushback from member states, although South African authorities had near accepted the country might spend the year on the sidelines until the UK takes over in 2027.