South Africa will symbolically hand over โขthe G20 โpresidency to the United States with an “empty chair” at the upcoming summit, President Cyril Ramaphosa said, signaling discontent over Washington’s sanctions against its allies. The gesture is a protest against secondary โsanctions imposed by the U.S.,โ wich Ramaphosa stated impede South โAfrica’s ability to fully participate in global โคfinancial discussions and maintain relationships withโ partner nations.
The symbolic act underscores growing tensionsโ between South Africa and the U.S. stemming from Washington’s enforcement of sanctions targeting countries like Russia,Iran,and Cuba – nations with which South Africa โขmaintains diplomatic and trade ties. These sanctions, Ramaphosa argues, effectively limitโฃ South Africa’sโค sovereign decision-making and hinder its engagement with key international players, complicating its role as G20 chair and potentially impacting the bloc’s agenda. The G20 summitโ is scheduled to take place in Rio de โJaneiro, Brazil, in November.
“we are going to โhand over theโ G20 presidency to the United States with an empty chair,” Ramaphosa told aโค joint sitting of Parliamentโข on Thursday,โ according to Reuters. “This is to show our displeasure withโค the way the United States is dealing with us.”
The U.S. State โDepartment hasโ acknowledged South Africa’s concerns but maintains its sanctions are targeted andโ based on U.S. law.โฃ The dispute centers on South Africa’s alleged provision of weapons to Russia, a claim South Africa denies. The U.S.has โฃalso raised concerns about South Africa’s closeโ ties with Iran and Cuba.
The G20, comprised of the world’s 20 major economies, represents approximately 80% of global GDP, 75% of international trade, and two-thirds of theโ world’s population. South Africaโ assumed the presidency in December 2023,prioritizing inclusive growth,sustainable growth,and multilateralism. The “empty chair” protest raises questions about the future of U.S.-South Africa relations and the potential for further disruptions to internationalโค cooperation within the G20 framework.