US skipping G20 in South Africa is ‘their loss, Says Ramaphosa
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the United States’ decision to skip the upcoming G20 leaders’ summit in Johannesburg as “their loss,” insisting that the meeting will proceed and produce meaningful outcomes despite Washington’s absence.
Speaking to journalists in Cape Town on Wednesday, Ramaphosa said the summit, scheduled for November 22–23, will “take fundamental decisions” to advance global economic and social cooperation under the theme of solidarity, equality, and sustainability. “We will take fundamental decisions, and their absence is their loss,” he stated. His comments followed an announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump that no American officials would attend the summit. Trump cited alleged human rights abuses and claims of violence against white farmers in South Africa as reasons for the boycott — allegations that Pretoria has repeatedly dismissed as baseless and politically motivated. Ramaphosa said the boycott was unfortunate but would not derail South Africa’s efforts to make the G20 a platform for addressing the needs of developing nations, particularly in reforming global financial systems, tackling climate challenges, and promoting fair trade. He added that the U.S. was “voluntarily giving up a key role it should be playing as the world’s largest economy. The 2025 G20 Summit, the first ever to be hosted on African soil, is expected to attract leaders from China, Russia, the European Union, and other major economies. Analysts believe Washington’s absence could weaken its influence on global policy discussions while giving more room to rival powers to shape the agenda. Despite the diplomatic tension, South Africa says preparations for the summit are in full swing and that discussions will proceed as planned. Ramaphosa reiterated his commitment to multilateralism and urged other nations to engage constructively rather than resort to “boycott politics. The summit will focus on boosting global cooperation, advancing debt relief for struggling economies, and accelerating sustainable development across Africa and beyond.
