South Africa Hands Over G20 Presidency to the U.S.

South Africa has officially handed over the G20 presidency to the United States in a subdued ceremony at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation in Pretoria, amid strained diplomatic relations with U.S. President Donald Trump.

The handover follows Trump’s boycott of the recent G20 Leaders Summit in Johannesburg, citing controversial allegations against South Africa that were widely dismissed by Pretoria. South African officials insisted the transfer be conducted at a senior diplomatic level, rejecting Washington’s request to delegate the responsibility to a junior envoy.

President Cyril Ramaphosa, in closing remarks at the summit, emphasized that Africa’s priorities had taken center stage during South Africa’s G20 term and hailed the summit as a success despite the absence of the U.S. leadership.

Tensions between the two nations intensified after Trump publicly accused South Africa of mistreating its white minority, leading to a freeze on certain U.S. aid and a threatened exclusion from the 2026 G20 summit in Miami. Ramaphosa dismissed the claims as “blatant misinformation” while reaffirming South Africa’s commitment to multilateralism and global cooperation.

The quiet handover reflects the diplomatic rift between Pretoria and Washington, leaving questions about the cohesion of the G20 under U.S. leadership in 2026 as global eyes turn toward next year’s summit.