US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday he would skip Group of 20 talks this month in South Africa, accusing the host government of an "anti-American" agenda.
Rubio's announcement comes two days after US President Donald Trump lashed out at South Africa over land reforms aimed at redressing inequalities perpetrated during the apartheid era.
In a post on X that took on the tone of Trump, Rubio said he would boycott the G20 talks of foreign ministers in Johannesburg on February 20-21.
"South Africa is doing very bad things. Expropriating private property. Using G20 to promote 'solidarity, equality, & sustainability,'" Rubio wrote in his post.
"In other words: DEI and climate change."
DEI, or diversity, equity and inclusion, has been attacked relentlessly by Trump since he returned to the White House last month.
"My job is to advance America's national interests, not waste taxpayer money or coddle anti-Americanism."
I will NOT attend the G20 summit in Johannesburg.
South Africa is doing very bad things. Expropriating private property. Using G20 to promote “solidarity, equality, & sustainability.” In other words: DEI and climate change.
My job is to advance America’s national interests, not…
Earlier this week, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa rejected Trump's assertions that South Africa was "confiscating" land and said he was ready to explain his government's land reform policy to his US counterpart.
On Tuesday, Ramaphosa spoke with top Trump ally Elon Musk to raise concerns about "disinformation" being spread by the US president.
In a statement on Thursday morning, Minister of International Relations and Co-Operation, Ronald Lamola noted a tweet by Secretary of State of the United States of America, Marco Rubio.
Lamola said: “We are a sovereign and democratic country committed to human dignity, equality, and rights, championing non-racialism and non-sexism while placing our constitution and the rule of law at the forefront. There is no arbitrary dispossession of land / private property. This law is similar to the Eminent domain laws. Solidarity / Ubuntu , promotes collective problem-solving. Our G20 Presidency, is not confined to just climate change but also equitable treatment for nations of the Global South, ensuring a equal global system for all. These are important principles that we remain open to pursue and engage the United States on.”
Land ownership is a contentious issue in South Africa with most farmland still owned by white people three decades after the end of apartheid. The government is under pressure to implement reforms.
The absence of the United States, the world's largest economy, would mark a major blow to the G20, which is meant to represent the world's largest economies.
The meeting could have offered a first opportunity for Rubio to meet his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, as Trump pushes for diplomacy on the Ukraine war.
AFP