A diplomatic storm is brewing ahead of next week’s G20 Leaders’ Summit as South Africa has flatly refused to travel to the United States to formally hand over the G20 presidency — insisting Washington must either collect the mandate in Pretoria or proceed without an official handover.
The hard stance, announced this week, marks the sharpest escalation yet in months-long tensions between the two countries. Pretoria says it will not “chase” Washington for a ceremonial transition, stressing that global leadership roles must be respected equally by all members.
The dispute intensified after former U.S. President Donald Trump declared that the U.S. would not send a delegation to the Johannesburg summit, while sharply criticizing South Africa’s influence within the G20 bloc. The move was received in Pretoria as a diplomatic snub and a breach of long-standing G20 traditions.
With the summit just days away and no sign of compromise from either side, the world is watching closely. Diplomats warn the standoff could test the G20’s unity, unsettle future leadership transitions, and set a precedent for confrontational diplomacy within the group.
For now, all eyes are on Washington’s next move — show up in South Africa, or proceed without the ceremony that has defined G20 leadership for years.
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