The United States will convene a meeting of officials from the Group of Twenty (G20) major economies starting Monday (15), to begin planning for next year, when it assumes the group’s rotating presidency, according to sources familiar with the plans cited by Reuters.
South Africa, this year’s host country, was not invited to participate in the meeting of G20 deputy representatives, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The U.S. took over the 12-month G20 presidency on Monday (8), amid a bitter dispute with South Africa, and stated that it will not invite Africa’s largest economy to take part in group events next year.
South Africa has rejected repeated allegations by U.S. President Donald Trump that its majority-black Government persecutes the white minority.
The White House and the U.S. Treasury made no immediate comment regarding next week’s meeting.
The U.S. Government has pledged to implement “much-needed reforms” during its presidency and “refocus the G20 on its core mission of driving economic growth and prosperity to deliver results.”
Next year’s G20 leaders’ summit will be held in Miami, at a golf resort owned by Trump. Washington did not attend this year’s summit, hosted by Pretoria, and accused South Africa of weaponising its leadership of the group.
