Trump Administration Excludes South Africa From G20 Meeting in Atlanta

South Africa was excluded from the Group of 20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta, marking another point of tension between the country and the Trump administration.

South Africa was absent from the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta after the Trump administration did not invite the group's only African member. [Photo: G20 Facebook]

South Africa is a founding member of the G20 and the group's only African member. Its absence from the October 30-31, 2026, meeting drew objections from other participating countries.

The exclusion came amid a series of disputes between Washington and Pretoria.

During South Africa's G20 presidency the previous year, senior U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, had declined to participate in meetings hosted by the country.

South African officials said the country's absence from the Atlanta gathering was not voluntary.

“We have consistently maintained that our nonparticipation is not voluntary,” Phindile Kunene, spokesperson for South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola, said.

Kunene welcomed expressions of concern from other G20 members over South Africa's exclusion and said the country was prepared to participate on equal terms when Britain assumes the G20 presidency the following year.

Ukraine was also absent from the meeting, although it had been invited to previous G20 gatherings as a guest despite not being a member.

U.S. officials said they had deliberately limited invitations to formal members of the group.

Poland, meanwhile, attended as a guest while seeking formal membership, with support from the United States.

South Africa's exclusion highlighted the diplomatic divisions surrounding the Atlanta meeting, which was already marked by disagreements over Russia's participation, the war in Ukraine and other international issues.