Cyril Ramaphosa Comments on South Africa's G7 Summit Exclusion

Fri Mar 27 2026 11:19:48 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses the controversy surrounding his non-invitation to the upcoming G7 Summit, insisting that it does not signify a snub for his country.

In light of South Africa's exclusion from the forthcoming G7 Summit in France, President Cyril Ramaphosa remarks that such developments should not be surprising. Despite claims of pressure from the U.S. leading to the withdrawal of his invitation, Ramaphosa downplays the significance of the G7 membership, noting that South Africa has not attended every summit. The discussion unfolds amid tensions in U.S.-South Africa relations, particularly during Donald Trump's presidency.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has downplayed reports that his invitation to the forthcoming G7 summit in France has been withdrawn, saying non-attendance by a country outside the bloc should surprise no one.

Reports on Thursday speculated that the U.S. exerted significant pressure on France to rescind Ramaphosa's invitation to the summit scheduled for June, with claims that U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to boycott the gathering if the South African leader attended.

The invitation to the G7 does not mean that you're being snubbed if you're not invited or you're being ignored, said Ramaphosa.

France has denied yielding to U.S. pressure, confirming it decided to invite Kenya this time instead.

The French presidency stated that the inclusion of leaders from South Korea, India, Brazil, and Kenya during the summit is part of efforts to address global economic disparities.

A South African official indicated that the exclusion resulted from sustained pressure from the U.S., noting that officials could not risk offending a key G7 member.

Ramaphosa reiterated that South Africa's non-invitation should not be unexpected, emphasizing that many countries globally do not receive invitations to the G7.

When we do go, we are invited, and we take a message there, he explained, recalling his previous participation in several G7 summits as a guest.

The French Foreign Minister stated that France's decision was guided by the desire for a streamlined G7, with the invitation to Kenya aimed at preparing for the upcoming France-Africa summit in Nairobi in May.

No U.S. language indicated a request for South Africa's exclusion, but tensions have simmered since Trump took office, stemming from trade disputes, diplomatic issues, and differing views on land reform.

The South African government has countered U.S. claims prioritizing refugee applications from white Afrikaners, highlighting perceived disagreements regarding racial policies and judicial matters.

Following Ramaphosa's statements, the South African presidency noted that plans to reset the relationship with the U.S. are still in motion. However, the bilateral ties with France remain robust despite the G7 invitation withdrawal.