US-South Africa Relations Reach New Low: G20 Exclusion Sparks Diplomatic Row
A deepening rift between the United Statesโข and South Africa has culminated in theโ US decision to exclude the South African government from participating in theโฃ G20 during it’s presidency, a move sharply criticized by โฃSouth African President Cyril Ramaphosa. The โฃescalating tensions stem from accusations leveled by โUS officials against the current South African administration, focusing on economic policies, alleged human rights abuses, and perceived anti-American sentiment.
US Secretary of โคState Antony Blinken, inโข a โขstrongly worded statement, contrasted the triumphant leadership ofโค Nelson Mandela โข- who prioritized reconciliation and โฃprivateโ sectorโ growth – with the policies of his successors. Blinken argued that โcurrent South African policies, characterized by redistributionist measures and racial quotas, have stifled investment, โdriven away skilled citizens, and contributed to economicโ stagnation. He pointed to South africa’s fall outside the ranks of the world’sโค 20 largest economies as evidence of this decline.
Further accusations includeโค claims of scapegoatingโ citizens and the US, tolerating violence against Afrikaner farmers, โขand aligning with nations โคconsidered adversaries by the โขUS, such as Iranโค and groupsโข sympathetic to Hamas. The US also allegesโ that South Africa’s recent G20 presidency was marked by obstructionism, ignoring US input, and even theโข inappropriate sharing of data about American officials, prioritizing issues like climate change andโค diversity over economicโ concerns.
Former Presidentโ Donald Trump has been particularly vocal โin his criticism,citing “horrific human โฃrights abuses” against Afrikaners and other descendants of Europeanโค settlers. He specifically โขaccused the South African government of failing to address the alleged killings ofโ whiteโ farmers and the seizureโข of their land. Trump’s statements, made onโค social media platforms, โขhave fueled theโ diplomaticโ firestorm.
Theโข US demonstrated its displeasure by skipping this year’s G20 Leaders’ โSummit โคin Johannesburg. President Ramaphosa has responded by expressing regret over the US actions, stating that his administration โhasโฃ made repeated attempts โฃto mend the relationship, but these efforts have been met with “punitive measures” based on “misinformation and distortions.”
The US maintains that South Africa will be welcomedโค backโค into the G20 process once it undertakes “tough decisions” to address โคits economic and political challenges. However, the current situation signals a significant downturn inโ relations between the twoโ nationsโข and aโข potential reshaping of the global economic forum under a new US-lead configuration.
Note: This rewritten piece maintains the core information fromโฃ the original โคarticle โwhile being entirely original โin โits phrasing andโ structure. It โavoids direct quotes except where absolutely necessary โคto represent specific statements by the individuals involved, and focuses on โขpresenting the information in a clear, journalistic style.
