Russia Challenges US Over South Africa’s G20 Exclusion
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confronted US Secretary of State Marco Rubio over South Africa's exclusion from the upcoming G20 summit in Miami
- Lavrov argued that the US, as host, does not have the power to bar existing G20 members or replace them with non-members like Poland
- International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola said South Africa would not attend without a formal invitation but stopped short of calling for a boycott
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SOUTH AFRICA — Russia has openly challenged the United States over its decision to exclude South Africa from the G20 summit scheduled for December in Miami, with Moscow arguing that Washington has overstepped the limits of its authority as the grouping's host.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov raised the matter directly with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during meetings on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Foreign minister questions limits of G20 presidency
Lavrov stated that while the country holding the G20 presidency is responsible for setting the summit date and location and for issuing invitations, that authority does not extend to determining which existing members may attend. He described an invitation to a G20 member as, in effect, a notification of when and where the meeting will be held, not a discretionary offer.
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Lavrov specifically told Rubio it was improper for the US to withhold an invitation from South Africa while extending one to Poland, a country that is not a G20 member. He added that admitting a new country to the grouping would require consensus among all existing members, meaning the US presidency cannot unilaterally expand or alter G20 membership.
The exchange coincided with Rubio confirming that US President Donald Trump had invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the Miami summit. The Kremlin indicated it would consider the invitation.
SA ready but will not force its way in
South Africa has consistently maintained that it holds full G20 membership and has questioned why it was sidelined from meetings convened under the US presidency. President Cyril Ramaphosa previously stated that the country is a founding G20 member and belongs to the grouping "in its own name and right."
Russia's public challenge places the US position under fresh diplomatic scrutiny, with Moscow contesting Washington's interpretation of what powers the G20 presidency actually confers.
Lamola challenges member states to stand up for SA
Previously, Briefly News reported that International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola confirmed that Pretoria stands ready to participate in the summit should a formal invitation be issued. He publicly called on fellow G20 member states to address the legitimacy of any declarations produced by a summit that excludes South Africa as a founding member. However, he made clear that South Africa would not attend without one, and ruled out any push for a boycott of the proceedings.
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Source: Briefly News
