Cape Town – A planned meeting between President Cyril Ramaphosa and US President Donald Trump at the 2025 G7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada, did not take place, despite earlier indications of possible informal engagement.
Trump left the summit early due to escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, prioritising national security matters back in Washington.
The anticipated encounter was part of South Africa’s diplomatic effort to reaffirm its commitment to multilateralism while preserving foreign policy independence, amid strained US-South Africa relations following a prior clash over land reform and racial issues, Business Insider Africa reported.
Ramaphosa wrapped up his trip to Canada on Tuesday.
The meeting could have mended relations after a tense May visit to the White House, where Trump falsely accused South Africa of a “genocide” against white citizens.
According to Africa News, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney clarified Trump’s early departure was due to the Middle East crisis, not summit tensions.
The summit, attended by G7 leaders and guests like Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, was dominated by international crises — including Russia’s war in Ukraine and Iran’s retaliation against Israeli airstrikes.
While leaders agreed on issues like AI regulation and access to critical minerals, they failed to issue a joint statement on Ukraine.
A planned Trump-Zelenskyy meeting was also cancelled.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
