US to Boycott G20 Summit in South Africa, Trump Cites Treatment of White Farmers

In an unprecedented move, US President Donald Trump has announced that no US government officials, including himself, will attend the upcoming G20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. This decision comes amidst the US leader's continued accusations that South Africa is persecuting its white minority, specifically the Afrikaners, a claim which the South African government has repeatedly denied.

Background and Context

The US president has been outspoken in his criticism of South Africa's treatment of its Afrikaner population, descendants of Dutch settlers who dominated during the apartheid era. Trump has accused South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's administration of tolerating a genocide of Afrikaners, claiming that they are being killed and slaughtered, and their land and farms are being illegally confiscated.

Key Developments

Speaking at the America Business Forum in Miami, Trump announced his decision not to attend the G20 summit, during which South Africa holds the rotating presidency. South Africa shouldn’t even be in the ‘Gs’ anymore because what’s happened there is bad. I told them I’m not going. I’m not going to represent our country there, said Trump.

US Vice-President J.D. Vance had been scheduled to attend in Trump’s place, but a person familiar with Vance’s plans who was granted anonymity to talk about his schedule said Vance would also no longer travel there for the summit.

Implications and Reactions

This latest move by Trump has dramatically escalated the ongoing tensions between the US and South Africa, and represents a significant departure from usual diplomatic practices. However, some sources suggest that the president's claims of persecution against the Afrikaner population may not align with reported figures.

Conclusion and Current Status

The G20 summit, scheduled for November 22 and 23, will be the first such summit held on African soil. Despite the US boycott, the summit is expected to proceed as planned, bringing together leaders from the globe’s leading and emerging economies. However, Trump's decision to boycott the event is likely to cast a long shadow over the proceedings.

The South African government has yet to respond to Trump's latest remarks and the announced boycott. As the summit draws closer, the international community will be closely watching the developments and potential repercussions of this diplomatic rift.