Cape Town – International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola has welcomed US President Donald Trump’s decision to send Vice President JD Vance to the G20 summit in South Africa.
Speaking in Mpumalanga, Lamola said Pretoria looks forward to engaging with Vance and emphasised that the summit’s ambitious outcomes will not be derailed by Trump’s absence.
“We welcome the fact that he has assigned or appointed his deputy president, JD Vance, to be the one who attends the G20 in South Africa,” Lamola said during an interview with SABC News.
“We welcome this development. The US can assign anyone that President Trump deems necessary. We look forward to interacting with him on the platforms of the G20,” he said.
He declined to speculate on Trump’s reasons, saying only the White House could clarify, but noted that Trump is known to avoid long-distance travel.
“That is for him to state. For us, we welcome that JD Vance has been assigned, but we also know that he is reluctant to travel long distances.
“But I believe the White House can share reasons for Trump’s decision.”
Trump confirmed on Friday that he will not attend the G20 leaders’ summit in South Africa, instead sending Vice President JD Vance.
“I won’t be going, JD will be going. Great vice president, and he looks forward to it,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, after announcing that the United States will host the 2026 G20 conference in Miami.
The move comes as Pretoria and Washington attempt to reset strained relations, with tensions over US tariffs on South African exports, cuts to HIV/AIDS funding, and Trump’s criticism of South Africa’s treatment of minority groups.
South Africa, which will hand over the G20 presidency to the US after the summit, had initially prepared to host Trump with full security. However, his no-show highlights the ongoing challenges in bilateral relations.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
