No nation should bully another, says South African president ahead of G20 summit
Relations between Washington, Pretoria have been frosty following disagreements on several foreign, domestic issues
JOHANNESBURG
South Africa’s president said Thursday that no country should be allowed to bully another because of its economic or military might because all are equal.
“It cannot be that a country’s geographical location, income level, or army determines who has a voice and who is spoken down to,” Cyril Ramaphosa said in closing remarks at the G20 Social Summit in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg.
Ramaphosa said South Africa would issue a leaders' joint declaration during the G20 summit scheduled for Nov. 22-23, despite Washington demanding that it should not do it.
South Africa is the first African country to lead the G20, a powerful group of nations. It assumed the rotational annual presidency of the group last December. The countries of the G20 account for more than 70% of the world’s trade.
Relations between Washington and Pretoria have been frosty following disagreements on several foreign and domestic issues.
Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump said no American officials would attend the Johannesburg summit, accusing South Africa of committing “human rights abuses” against white Afrikaners. In a post on his Truth Social platform, he alleged “killing and slaughter” of Afrikaner farmers and “illegal confiscation” of their land.
Pretoria has repeatedly rejected the allegations, saying claims of systematic persecution or land seizures targeting white Afrikaners are not supported by evidence.
On Thursday, Ramaphosa said discussions were underway regarding possible US participation after Washington signaled a “change of mind.”
“We have received notice from the United States … about a change of mind about participating in one shape, form, or other in the summit. So the discussions are still ongoing,” he told reporters.
Ramaphosa said when South Africa chose “solidarity, equality and sustainability" as the theme for its G20 presidency, it wanted to advance a vision of meaningful, credible global cooperation.
“We did not only mean a small club of leaders. We meant the people in the world must be able to be part of that vision,” he said.
