Rising Strains Between South Africa and US as Rubio Opts Out of G20 FM Meeting
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Synopsis
Tensions between South Africa and the US are escalating as Secretary of State Marco Rubio announces he will skip the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Johannesburg. Accusations of land expropriation have fueled the dispute, with South African officials asserting their sovereignty.
Key Takeaways
- Tensions escalate between South Africa and the US
- Marco Rubio will not attend the G20 meeting
- Accusations of land expropriation arise from US
- South Africa emphasizes its sovereignty
- G20 presidency focuses on equitable treatment
Johannesburg, Feb 6 (NationPress) The ongoing tensions between South Africa and the United States are intensifying following the recent decision by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to forgo attending the upcoming Group of 20 (G20) Foreign Ministers' Meeting set for later this month.
Rubio announced on the social media platform X that he would not be present at the meeting in Johannesburg. He accused South Africa of engaging in "very bad practices" such as the expropriation of land and private property.
In a counterstatement, South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola emphasized on Thursday morning that South Africa is a sovereign nation and that there has been no "arbitrary" seizure of land or property.
"We are a sovereign and democratic nation committed to human dignity, equality, and rights, promoting non-racialism and non-sexism while prioritizing our constitution and the rule of law," Lamola remarked.
Lamola further stated that since taking over the G20 presidency from Brazil, South Africa has aimed to address several pressing issues, including the rising debt challenges facing emerging economies.
"Solidarity encourages collective solutions. Our G20 presidency goes beyond merely addressing climate change; it also involves ensuring fair treatment for nations in the Global South, striving for a balanced global system for all. These are essential principles that we are open to discussing with the United States," Lamola added.
The dispute between the nations escalated earlier this week when US President Donald Trump threatened to cut funding to South Africa due to the recently enacted Expropriation Act.
Somadoda Fikeni, an international relations scholar and chair of the Public Service Commission of South Africa, conveyed to Xinhua news agency via telephone that if the United States opts out of the G20 meetings, it risks isolating itself from the G20.
"For the G20 to function, South Africa and the United States must engage. If the US withdraws, it will isolate itself from this influential platform," Fikeni stated. "When the situation calms down, the repercussions will be minimal. However, it is unlikely that America will prioritize South Africa as they are currently managing numerous other pressing issues."
South Africa is set to host the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting from February 20 to 21 in Johannesburg.
