The US formally warned South Africa against pushing for a joint statement at this weekend\u2019s Group of 20 summit in Johannesburg that the Trump administration is boycotting, according to a document seen by Bloomberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The diplomatic standoff is particularly awkward given it\u2019s the first time the continent is hosting a G-20 and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is passing the baton to US President Donald Trump at the end of this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tensions between the two men came to a head at an Oval Office meeting in May, when Ramaphosa had to endure a dressing down in front of the cameras. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump escalated the spat further by saying he wouldn\u2019t attend the summit, and followed up with a complete boycott of the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The US openly opposes South Africa\u2019s G-20 presidency and its core agenda of solidarity, equality and sustainability \u2014 part of Ramaphosa\u2019s push for a more inclusive world order. That adds to Trump\u2019s false accusations Pretoria is conducting a genocide against White Afrikaners and expropriating land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWashington\u2019s absence negates it role over the G20\u2019s conclusions,\u201d South African foreign ministry spokesman Chrispin Phiri said by phone on Wednesday. \u201cWe cannot allow coercion by absentia to become a viable tactic. It is a recipe for institutional paralysis and the breakdown of collective action.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the diplomatic communication delivered on Nov. 15, the US said it would neither participate in preparatory talks before the summit, nor the gathering of world leaders this weekend. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It will block any outcome framed as a consensus G-20 position because South Africa\u2019s priorities \u201crun counter to US policy views,\u201d according to a copy of the document.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe US opposes issuance of any G-20 summit outcome document under the premise of a consensus G-20 position, without US agreement,\u201d it said. \u201cIf a deliverable is issued under your presidency, it will be framed solely as a chair\u2019s statement to accurately reflect the absence of consensus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The White House and State Department didn\u2019t immediately respond to messages left for comment sent before normal US business hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite the US opposition, South Africa is pressing ahead with efforts to obtain a joint statement at the summit that ends on Sunday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Securing a declaration is a priority for South Africa. It has sought to build on the agenda advanced by recent G-20 presidents from the so-called Global South \u2014 Indonesia, India and Brazil. The US takes over as G20 president in December.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBrazil\u2019s position is that we must have a declaration, so we are discussing it with the countries that are here,\u201d Ambassador Philip Gough, secretary for economic and financial affairs at Brazil\u2019s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters on Wednesday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe South African presidency\u2019s position is that there should be a declaration, and Brazil\u2019s position is to strongly support having one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One European G-20 official said their country would support either a joint declaration or a lesser chairman\u2019s summary. The official is involved in the ongoing preparatory talks and asked not to be identified as they are private.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Germany\u2019s government said it \u201cfully supports\u201d South Africa\u2019s G-20 presidency in a statement on Monday<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most countries have lead negotiators, known as sherpas, involved in talks taking place in South Africa this week. Around 15 heads of state are expected in Johannesburg this weekend, including those from Brazil, India, Turkey. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Several European presidents or prime ministers are also set to attend, as well as Japan\u2019s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
China\u2019s President Xi Jinping will not attend and is sending Premier Li Qiang in his place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sticking points in the talks include wording on gender and climate issues, according to people familiar with the discussions. Argentina, a close ally of the US, has pushed back on references to both climate finance and global climate accords, the people said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amid the growing tensions between Pretoria and Washington, the Trump administration has slapped 30% tariffs on South African exports \u2014 the highest on the continent \u2014 souring relations between the two countries further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
South Africa\u2019s foreign minister, Ronald Lamola, told the Bloomberg Africa Business Summit on Tuesday that Pretoria had repeatedly sought to repair the relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have always been open \u2014 the aggression is on the side of the US,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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