US top diplomat Marco Rubio will not attend G20 meet in South Africa
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that he would not attend the Group of 20 (G20) foreign ministers meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, scheduled for February 20-21. Rubio cited South Africa’s land and climate change policies, as well as the promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), as reasons for his decision.
Rubio expressed his concerns in a post on X, stating, “South Africa is doing very bad things. Expropriating private property. Using G20 to promote ‘solidarity, equality, & sustainability.’ In other words: DEI and climate change”. He added, “My job is to advance America’s national interests, not waste taxpayer money or coddle anti-Americanism”.
The announcement follows President Donald Trump’s criticism of South Africa’s land policy, with Trump stating that South Africa is “confiscating land” and mistreating “certain classes of people”. Trump also threatened to cut off funding to South Africa until a full investigation is completed. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa responded by defending his country’s land reform policy, clarifying that it is a constitutionally mandated procedure to ensure equitable public access to land, not a tool for confiscation.
Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, declared that he would not be attending the G20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. The summit is a meeting of foreign ministers from G20 countries. South Africa holds the G20 presidency from December 2024 through November 2025.
Rubio stated his reasons for not attending, citing concerns about South Africa’s actions, which include the expropriation of private property. He also criticized South Africa for using the G20 platform to promote “solidarity, equality, & sustainability,” which he believes is a promotion of “DEI and climate change”. Rubio said that his job is to advance America’s national interests, not waste taxpayer money or support “anti-Americanism”.
Rubio’s announcement followed President Trump’s criticism of South Africa’s land reforms aimed at addressing inequalities from the apartheid era. Trump has pledged to halt all future funding, claiming that South Africa is confiscating land and mistreating certain groups of people.
