President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday downplayed reports of US pressure behind France’s decision to withdraw South Africa’s invitation to the upcoming G7 leaders’ summit, insisting there had been no sustained influence from Washington and that the move should not be viewed as a snub.
The controversy erupted earlier on Thursday when the South African Presidency told Agence France-Presse that France had withdrawn the invitation — originally extended personally by President Emmanuel Macron during the G20 summit in Johannesburg last year — due to “sustained pressure” from the United States, including an alleged threat by Washington to boycott the summit if South Africa attended.
Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said: “We’ve learnt that due to sustained pressure, France has had to withdraw its invitation to South Africa to attend the G7 meeting. We are told that the Americans threatened to boycott the G7 if South Africa was invited.”
However, speaking later in the day, Ramaphosa pushed back against that narrative. He stated there had been no sustained pressure from the United States and emphasised that South Africa is not a permanent G7 member and has not attended every previous summit.
“The move should not be seen as a snub,” Ramaphosa said, adding that host countries have full discretion over guest invitations and that South Africa respects France’s decision.
French officials have also denied that the exclusion resulted from US pressure. They indicated that Kenya was invited instead, ahead of President Macron’s planned visit to the country, as part of efforts to engage emerging economies while focusing on global economic imbalances. China is notably not invited to the June 15-17 summit in Évian-les-Bains.
The episode highlights ongoing strains in US-South Africa relations, which have been tested by disagreements over trade, foreign policy positions (including South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice against Israel), and other bilateral issues.South Africa had been invited as a guest to broaden the G7’s engagement with Global South voices, but will now not participate.
This is a developing story with differing accounts between the initial Presidency briefing, Ramaphosa’s public comments, and statements from French and US sides.