German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Image credit: Michael Kappeler/dpa via AFP
(The Post News) – German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced he will personally urge U.S. President Donald Trump to reconsider his decision to exclude South Africa from the 2026 G20 summit in Miami.
Trump’s move, based on false claims of “white genocide,” has sparked outrage in Pretoria and concern among global leaders.
Merz Steps Into Diplomatic Row
Merz said on Thursday that he intends to raise the issue directly with President Donald Trump. This comes after Washington’s announcement that South Africa would be barred from attending the next G20 summit in Florida.
Trump justified the exclusion by citing alleged “horrific human rights abuses” against white South Africans. These are claims widely dismissed as false and inflammatory.
Merz’s intervention comes after the United States snubbed the recent G20 summit in Johannesburg. This was the first ever held on African soil. The absence was seen as a deliberate diplomatic slight, and Trump’s subsequent remarks have escalated tensions between Washington and Pretoria.
Earlier this year, Trump ambushed President Cyril Ramaphosa during a White House visit. He repeated discredited narratives of a so-called “white genocide” in South Africa.
Germany, a founding member of the G20, has stressed that South Africa’s participation is vital. Merz noted that excluding Pretoria undermines the spirit of multilateralism and risks alienating Africa from global economic decision‑making.
He said Berlin would “seek to persuade” Trump to reverse the ban. He highlighted South Africa’s role as a bridge between developed and emerging economies.
Pretoria Pushes Back
South Africa has strongly rejected Trump’s claims. President Ramaphosa described them as “regrettable and misinformed.” He insisted that the handover of the G20 presidency was proper. It was conducted at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.
The US attempted to warn South Africa against issuing a joint G20 declaration without US consensus. However, Pretoria pushed back. It adopted the document shortly after the meeting began. South Africa asserted its sovereignty as the host nation.
The United States warned Pretoria not to issue a G20 declaration without its participation at the leaders’ summit. The U.S. chose to boycott the Johannesburg meeting over claims of white persecution. According to the Sunday Times, Washington had pressured allies not to endorse a joint declaration. They insisted any outcome should be framed only as a Chair’s Statement. This would reflect the lack of consensus.
Analysts warn that excluding South Africa could weaken the G20’s credibility. This is particularly concerning when global cooperation is needed. Such cooperation is essential to tackle economic instability, climate change, and geopolitical tensions.
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