In a striking diplomatic moment, President Cyril Ramaphosa has thanked PM Narendra Modi for his warm endorsement of the Johannesburg G20 Summit and simultaneously dismissed Donald Trump’s claim that South Africa will be barred from next year’s G20 event in Florida. Ramaphosa emphasised that global leaders praised South Africa’s hosting, including the IMF Managing Director and Germany’s Chancellor, proving the summit’s success. Taking aim at Trump, he stated that South Africa is a founding member of the G20 and cannot be excluded based on baseless remarks. He clarified that the presidency handover to the U.S. was completed correctly, and accusations of refusal were false. The statement underscores the growing alignment between India and Africa as the Global South rises, while exposing the confrontational approach that Trump continues to adopt toward key international partners.
