How Trump's absence from the G20 Summit may affect US-South Africa relations
Image: AFP
Although US President Donald Trump said he did not plan to attend the G20 Summit in South Africa, analysts believe that, despite this demonstrates his continued hatred for the country, his presence would likely become a focal point for media coverage and overshadow other important discussions.
The analysts added that Trump's announcement regarding his potential absence from the summit raises several important considerations.
Trump on Tuesday announced that he did not plan to attend the G20 Summit and that he would send someone else to represent the US.
This is despite President Cyril Ramaphosa's request for Trump to attend the summit, which is expected to take place in November.
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Trump has claimed that the South African government is adopting discriminatory policies against white residents.
He took aim at South Africa early this year after his election for the second term, promoting claims that white farmers were targeted, which Ramaphosa denied during the Oval meeting in May.
The US has also been critical of SA's BEE legislation and the land expropriation law signed in January. South Africa has insisted the latter law will not be used to arbitrarily confiscate white-owned land.
Political analyst Sethulego Matebesi said Trump is widely known for his radical views on other nations, and he would likely become a focal point for media coverage, potentially overshadowing other important discussions and initiatives at the summit.
However, said Matebesi, his absence will demonstrate his continued hatred for South Africa.
'His presence is crucial for representing American interests and engaging with other world leaders on pressing global issues such as climate change, trade, and security. A leader's absence can signal a lack of commitment to international cooperation.
"Conversely, his absence could be interpreted as a lack of interest in African issues or a disregard for the role of South Africa as a host nation. This might affect US-Africa relations and diminish South Africa's standing in the international arena," Matebesi said.
Meanwhile, Ramaphosa's spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said it would be a lost opportunity for Trump not to visit South Africa.
"When he has been told so much about our country and to a great degree, has also pronounced on South Africa," said Magwenya, adding that all that is left now is for Trump to see for himself this great country of Nelson Mandela, of amazing and resilient people who, notwithstanding both historical and present challenges, thrive to build a nation that works for all and leaves no one behind.
"The G20 Summit of heads of state and government will proceed nonetheless and successfully so. We are working hard to have a unanimously agreed-upon summit declaration. We have accepted that the declaration will very likely exclude the US because they've stated upfront their objections to some of the key thematic issues of South Africa's G20 Presidency. We expect the majority of heads of state and government to certainly attend the summit. Therefore, it will be a successful summit," he said.
Another political analyst, Ntsikelelo Breakfast, said Trump's announcement looks like he made South Africa a political project, adding that he thought the country was out of the hood following his fallout with Elon Musk.
"I was of the view that his posture towards us was influenced by his proximity to Musk. When we had a delegation to the US, to negotiate with him and restart bilateral relations, I thought we had managed this conflict, but now I see he is forging ahead in terms of applying 30% tariffs," Breakfast said, adding that it was disrespectful of Trump to send a junior to the summit.
"That is not right. And what was the point of the meeting with Ramaphosa if he did not come? It seems as if he is prepared to deal with us (South Africa) throughout his term. This means we are in trouble," he said.
Breakfast added that although Trump might become the centre of attraction, it is crucial for him to come and represent the US.
An international relations expert, Dr Noluthando Phungula, said Trump's threats not to skip the G20 Summit were expected as the bilateral relations between South Africa and the US have, over the past few months, been marred with political drama.
Phungula added that Trump's latest announcement speaks to a continuation of the strained bilateral relationship between Pretoria and Washington.
Professor Siphamandla Zondi, another international relations expert, said Trump's intimidation that he might not attend the summit shows that he is not interested in global co-operation.
Zondi said this also shows that Trump's agenda is to make the US great, adding that his interest is the nation, not the globe.
manyane.manyane@inl.co.za
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