Ramaphosa barred from G7 Summit in France after US pressure, South Africa says
Ramaphosa barred from G7 Summit in France after US pressure, South Africa says
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has been excluded from attending the upcoming G7 Summit in France, with Pretoria citing pressure from the United States as the reason for the decision.
According to Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, France’s decision to rescind Ramaphosa’s invitation followed mounting diplomatic pressure from Washington.
“We’ve learnt that due to sustained pressure, France has had to withdraw its invitation to South Africa to attend the G7 meeting,” Magwenya told AFP.
He added that Washington had indicated South Africa’s participation could influence whether the United States itself would attend the summit scheduled for June 15–17 in Évian, France.
“We are told that the Americans threatened to boycott the G7 if South Africa was invited,” Magwenya said.
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Despite the development, Pretoria moved to contain any diplomatic fallout with Paris, framing the episode as separate from broader bilateral ties.
“This will have no impact on the strength and close nature of our bilateral relationship with France,” Magwenya said.
He added that Pretoria would continue engaging Washington, even as tensions persist, emphasising dialogue over escalation.
“Notwithstanding all of these developments, South Africa remains committed to engage constructively with the US,” Magwenya said.
The disinvitation from the G7 comes amid a broader pattern of friction between Washington and Pretoria. Under President Donald Trump, relations between the two countries have been increasingly strained over domestic policies, trade disputes, and multilateral engagements.
Tensions have also played out in international forums. The United States skipped last year’s G20 summit in South Africa and publicly criticised the country’s human rights record, highlighting disagreements that extend beyond domestic policy. Trade measures, including high tariffs on South African exports, have further complicated the relationship.
Foreign policy disputes have also added another layer to the rift. South Africa’s decision to bring a case against Israel to the International Court of Justice, accusing it of committing genocide in Gaza, has similarly drawn repeated criticism from Washington.
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