France denies being pressured by US to disinvite SA from G7 meetings

The French government has denied being pressured by the United States (US) to disinvite South Africa from participating in G7 meetings in June.

This is contrary to statements from the Presidency on Thursday that France had retracted its invitation, personally extended by President Emmanuel Macron during 2025’s G20 Leaders’ Summit, because the US does not want South Africa there, owing to its own disagreements with the country.

In a responding statement, French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the decision to invite Kenya instead aligns with the work it’s doing to prepare for its Africa-France Summit.

ALSO READ:

Process to reset relations, resolve disputes with US ongoing: Presidency

US pressures France to exclude Ramaphosa from G7 Summit

G7 invitation retracted: South Africa sidelined following US pressure

President Cyril Ramaphosa last attended G7 meetings in Canada in 2025 and was also present when France last hosted the group of the world’s most powerful economies in 2019.

On Thursday, Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya claimed the US had threatened to boycott 2025’s gathering in Evian, if France did not retract its guest invitation to South Africa.

But Barrot has moved to counter this narrative, saying that choosing to invite Kenyan President William Ruto instead coincides with preparations for the Africa Forward summit due to be held in Nairobi in May.

“We have not yielded to any pressure but have made a choice consistent with our decision to hold a streamlined G7 focused on geo-economic issues,” he said.

Barrot said France has always relied on South Africa and respects the important role it plays in international affairs.

While the Presidency said its relationship with France would not be affected by the retraction of the invite to Ramaphosa, the French government said South Africa remains an essential partner of that country on all major global issues.