The White House said South Africa weaponized its leadership of the Group of 20 this year after the G20 summit adopted a declaration addressing climate and other global challenges before the summit’s close on Nov. 23, despite U.S. objections.
The declaration, drafted without input from the United States, “can’t be renegotiated,” South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson told reporters on Nov. 22. This reflected strains between Pretoria and the Trump administration, which boycotted the event.
“We had the entire year of working toward this adoption, and the past week has been quite intense,” spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced a boycott of the event earlier in November over accusations of human rights abuses against white Afrikaners and illegal land seizures….
US Says South Africa ‘Weaponized’ G20 Leadership After Summit Adopts Declaration
