Dispute Emerges Over S. Africa’s Absence from G7 Meeting

(MENAFN) South Africa has claimed that France rescinded an invitation for President Cyril Ramaphosa to participate in the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) summit in June, alleging that the move came after pressure from the United States. French officials, however, have rejected suggestions that their decision was influenced by Washington.

The G7, which includes leading industrialized nations such as France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Italy, and Canada, often extends invitations to select non-member states for certain sessions. South Africa, regarded as one of Africa’s most developed and industrialized economies, previously took part in last year’s outreach summit in Canada, where Ramaphosa attended as a guest.

Officials in Pretoria stated that an initial invitation had been extended for this year’s gathering, scheduled to take place in France from June 15 to 17.

On Thursday, presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said that “the Americans threatened to boycott the G7 if South Africa was invited.”

Responding to the allegation, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot insisted that Paris “yielded to no pressure” and instead chose to organize a “streamlined G7,” extending an invitation to Kenya to support preparations for the upcoming Africa-France summit set to be held in Nairobi in May.

“We are, of course, in close contact with South Africa, which remains an essential partner of France on all major global issues,” Barrot said during remarks to reporters at a G7 ministers’ meeting in Paris.

Ties between Washington and Pretoria have worsened since US President Donald Trump assumed office in January 2025. Trump and other senior US officials have frequently criticized South Africa for not aligning with American positions on major global matters, particularly in relation to Pretoria’s genocide case against Israel over the conflict in Gaza.

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