Accusing South Africa of engaging in "anti-Americanism,US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday announced that he will not be attending the G20 foreign ministers' meeting scheduled to be held in Johannesburg from February 20 -21.
Marco's decision regarding G20 comes after President Donald Trump threatened to cut off funding to the African country.Trump has declared that " South Africa is confiscating land" and "treating certain classes of people very badly".
The Trump administration's recent decisions point to further straining of the diplomatic ties between US and South Africa.
Reiterating the US president’s claim that South Africa was expropriating private property. Marco posted on X, “South Africa is doing very bad things. Expropriating private property. Using G20 to promote ‘solidarity, equality, & sustainability.’ In other words: DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] and climate change.”
Rubio said in a post on X, “My job is to advance America’s national interests, not waste taxpayer money or coddle anti-Americanism.”
The Group of Twenty (G20), is an intergovernmental economic forum comprising 19 countries and two regional unions - the European Union (EU), and recently the African Union (AU). It represent 85 per cent of the global economy, 75 per cent of world trade and 67 per cent of the global population.Africa holds the G20 presidency from December 2024 to November 2025.
Additionally, President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court, claiming that it “has engaged in illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel”.
The ICC can prosecute individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and the crime of aggression against the territory of member states.
“Neither country has ever recognized the ICC’s jurisdiction, and both nations are thriving democracies with militaries that strictly adhere to the laws of war,” Trump wrote in the order. The order was issued shortly after Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, D.C.
The ICC had issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant .
The Trump administration (2017-21) had punished the court with sanctions for war crimes investigations against U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan.
Trump's action points to SOUTH AFRICA 's genocide case against Israel
To understand the diplomatic equations in a broader perspective, South Africa's stand against Israel is a major frictional point in the US.
South Africa, in December 2023, instituted proceedings against Israel at the International Court of Justice, claiming violations of the Genocide Convention in relation to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The international support for the case has increased with several countries joining it including Nicaragua, Colombia, Cuba, Libya, Mexico, Spain and Turkiye.
During his annual State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed solidarity with the Palestinians and said that South Africa's case against Israel over its genocidal acts in Gaza is in accordance with the Genocide convention..
“South Africa has acted in accordance with its obligations under the Genocide Convention by instituting proceedings against Israel at the International Court of Justice,” he said.
Ramaphosa also expressed his country’s “full commitment” to the articles of the UN Charter in terms of the peaceful settlement of international disputes.
He appeared to criticise Trump, saying, “We are witnessing the rise of nationalism, protectionism, the pursuit of narrow interests and the decline of common cause ... We will not be bullied.”
The Hague Group launched a new legal campaign against Israel alleging the Jewish state is illegally occupying Palestinian territory, committing war crimes in Gaza and not abiding by the rulings made by the international courts.
The Hague group includes representatives from 9 countries: South Africa, Belize, Cuba, Namibia, Bolivia, Honduras, Senegal, Colombia and Malaysia.
South Africa's G20 vision
Eyeing to address critical global challenges, South Africa is positioned to take a leading role in advocating for sustainable development within the Global South, particularly during its G20 Presidency in 2025, where its stated theme is "Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability."
Among the key areas the presidency will focus on include addressing the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment, and inequality; as well as Africa’s development which entails placing Africa’s development at the forefront in alignment with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, ‘The Africa We Want’.
Not only G20 multilateral forums, South Africa relations with BRICS members China, Russia and Iran has added concerns to US.
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