๐ง๐ข ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ข๐ฉ๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐ฃ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐ง๐ข ๐๐จ๐ก๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
CCN NEWS
JOHANNESBURG:- A diplomatic storm is brewing between South Africa and the United States, after President Cyril Ramaphosa declined to hand over the G20 presidency to a chargรฉ dโaffaires.
The government called it a amid-level US diplomat, calling the move โdisrespectfulโ and โa form of bullying.โ
The US had planned to send Marc Dillard, its chargรฉ dโaffaires in Pretoria, to formally receive the rotating G20 presidency.ย But the Presidency issued a firm statement, stressing that โthe President will not hand over to a chargรฉ dโaffairesโ.ย Government insisting that such an act would break long-standing diplomatic protocol.
US Boycotts Summit Over Controversial Claims
The dispute follows Washingtonโs surprise decision to boycott the G20 summit. Former US President Donald Trump, currently shaping Americaโs foreign policy direction.ย Claimed that the boycott is in response to what he called, racial discrimination against white Afrikaners in South Africa.
South Africa has rejected the allegations as โbaseless and politically motivated,โ with officials accusing Washington of attempting, to undermine the countryโs sovereignty and global standing.
Global Leaders Attend Despite US Absence
This yearโs G20 summit, hosted in South Africa, carries the themeย โSolidarity, Equality,ย Sustainability.โ
It aims to advance several urgent global issues, including:
International debt restructuring
Climate change commitments
Fair global economic growth
Support for developing economies
Despite the US boycott, several major world powers, including Germany, the United Kingdom, and France, have confirmed that their heads of government will attend as scheduled. Diplomats say the absence of the US is โregrettable but not destabilizing,โ noting that consensus-building will continue.
Diplomatic Rift Widens
Analysts warn that the standoff could deepen diplomatic tensions, especially as both governments have exchanged unusually sharp language. South Africa insists it will not be โbullied by any nation,โ while US officials maintain that Washingtonโs stance reflects โdeep concerns about human rights.โ
With the summit set to begin under the shadow of controversy, all eyes are on whether behind-the-scenes negotiations.
The outcome can cool tensions,ย or whether this marks a new low in SA – US relations.
