Omanghana
Ronald Lamola has strongly rejected suggestions that the United States can unilaterally remove South Africa from the G20, insisting that Pretoria remains a legitimate founding member of the global economic bloc.
Speaking on the sidelines of the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi, Lamola addressed mounting diplomatic tensions following reports that Washington intends to exclude South Africa from the upcoming 2026 G20 Summit scheduled to take place in Miami.
The dispute reportedly stems from actions by the U.S. administration under Donald Trump and Marco Rubio, who are said to have blocked South Africa from participating in U.S.-hosted G20 sessions.
According to U.S. officials, the decision was influenced by concerns surrounding South Africa’s economic management, allegations of corruption, and what Washington has described as increasingly “anti-American” foreign policy positions. Reports also indicate that the United States is considering inviting Poland to participate in the Florida summit in South Africa’s place.
Lamola firmly dismissed the move, arguing that exclusion from a single host nation’s summit does not affect South Africa’s standing within the wider G20 framework. He emphasized that the organization operates through consensus among member states, meaning no individual country has the authority to expel another founding member.
“No, he can’t say we can no longer be in the G20 because we are a founding member,” Lamola stated during remarks to journalists at the BRICS gathering.
The South African minister also questioned the legitimacy of any G20 summit held without all founding members present. “We really don’t know what will be that summit which does not have one of its founding members,” he added, suggesting that the exclusion could undermine the credibility and unity of the organization itself.
Lamola further revealed that several G20 and BRICS partners, including Brazil and Russia, have raised concerns regarding both the legality and diplomatic precedent of the U.S. decision. Analysts say the disagreement highlights growing geopolitical divisions within major global institutions as emerging economies push back against Western influence.
As tensions with Washington escalate, South Africa has increasingly strengthened ties with alternative international alliances. During the BRICS meetings, Lamola praised what he described as the “unstoppable” rise of the Global South as a counterweight to Western foreign policy dominance.
At the same time, Pretoria has also expanded engagement with the European Union, which has reportedly backed South Africa’s continued participation in global economic governance structures despite the diplomatic fallout with Washington.
Political analysts say the standoff could deepen divisions between Western powers and emerging economies ahead of key international summits, while also testing the consensus-based foundations upon which the G20 was originally established.
Source: Omanghana
