G20: US makes U-turn signals participation in summit

The United States has told South Africa it would participate in this weekend’s G20 summit in Johannesburg.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa made this know Thursday, saying the US made a U-turn.

DAILY POST recalls that US President Donald Trump had said America would not take part in the November 22-23 meeting, stressing that no final statement by G20 leaders could be issued without its presence.

The US had clashed with South Africa over various international and domestic policies this year, extending its objections to Pretoria’s G20 priorities for the meeting of leading economies being held for the first time in Africa.

“We have received notice from the United States, a notice which we are still in discussions with them over, about a change of mind about participating in one shape, form, or other in the summit

“This comes at a late hour before the summit begins. And so therefore, we do need to engage in those types of discussions to see how practical it is and what it finally really means,” Ramaphosa said.

DAILY POST reports that the US embassy, in a note to the South African government last Saturday, repeated that it would not attend the summit.

According to the embassy, South Africa’s G20 priorities run counter to the US policy views and we cannot support consensus on any documents negotiated under your presidency.

Responding, Ramaphosa said earlier Thursday, that South Africa would not be bullied.

“It cannot be that a country’s geographical location or income or army determines who has a voice and who is spoken down to,” Ramaphosa told delegates at a G20 curtain-raiser event.