US treasury secretary Scott Bessent has decided not to attend the upcoming G20 finance ministers’ meeting in South Africa, citing domestic obligations in Washington, DC as the reason for his absence. This move underscores the strained relationship between the US and South Africa, which was sparked by President Donald Trump’s criticism of the recently signed Expropriation Act.
Bessent’s decision follows a similar move by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who opted out of attending a G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Johannesburg earlier this week. Rubio expressed concerns about South Africa’s land and equality policies, and criticized the G20 theme of Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability as being “anti-US.”
Despite the absence of top US officials, South Africa has downplayed any concerns about its relationship with Washington. G20 sherpa ambassador Xolisa Mabhongo reassured that there were no issues with other G20 members and emphasized that the focus would remain on the agenda set by South Africa.
The US delegation for the meeting will be led by Dana Brown, the deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in Pretoria, after Rubio withdrew. South Africa’s priorities for the G20 meeting include disaster resilience and response, debt sustainability for low-income countries, finance for a just energy transition, and inclusive growth and development through critical minerals.
President Cyril Ramaphosa was scheduled to deliver the opening address, with discussions on global geopolitics expected to follow. Foreign ministers will deliberate on South Africa’s economic priorities, while a high-level task force will concentrate on economic growth, employment, food security, and sustainable development through artificial intelligence.
International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola highlighted South Africa’s partnership with the European Union and stressed the need for global governance institution reforms. The G20 meeting will also review the past 20 years of work and address the cost of capital and debt issues in developing countries.
Non-G20 members participating in the discussions include Singapore, the Netherlands, Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, Spain, Nigeria, Ireland, Norway, and Angola. The focus will be on collaborative efforts to address global challenges and opportunities for sustainable development.
