Cape Town – Germany has urged the United States to reverse its decision to exclude South Africa from the 2026 Group of 20 (G20) summit, strengthening Pretoria’s diplomatic backing amid deteriorating relations with Washington.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called on US President Donald Trump to allow South Africa to participate in the summit scheduled for December in Miami, arguing that the country’s membership of the G20 and Africa’s representation in global economic decision-making should be respected.
Speaking at the Berlin Global Dialogue conference on Wednesday, Merz said: “Africa belongs at the table,” according to Bloomberg.
“The African Union is a member of the G20, and so is South Africa. That’s why I urge that South Africa be represented at the G20 summit,” he added.
According to Reuters, Trump announced last year that South Africa would not be invited to the gathering, citing allegations of persecution of the country’s white minority. The South African government has rejected these allegations, with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office previously describing them as “misinformation and distortions about our country”.
Diplomatic friction
The latest intervention follows months of diplomatic friction between Washington and Pretoria over South Africa’s domestic policies and foreign relations. The United States boycotted the 2025 G20 leaders’ summit in Johannesburg before assuming the group’s presidency in December that year.
The dispute has also raised concerns about the future of US-South Africa relations. In September, Reuters reported that Pretoria had criticised new US visa restrictions, saying Washington was misrepresenting its domestic policies. South Africa maintained that it had the sovereign right to address historical racial inequalities through its own laws.
Germany’s support is significant given its established economic and diplomatic relationship with South Africa. In April, the two countries agreed to upgrade their relationship to a strategic partnership, expanding cooperation in areas including energy, trade, critical minerals and international security, according to Germany’s Federal Foreign Office.
Merz’s latest appeal reinforces Berlin’s position that South Africa should retain its place in international decision-making forums. However, it remains unclear whether Washington will reverse its decision ahead of the December summit.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
