Marco Rubio Skips G20 Meeting, Criticizes South Africa’s Policies

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will not attend the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Johannesburg due to his criticisms of South African policies. His absence reflects U.S. indifference towards international cooperation. South Africa’s G20 presidency aims to focus on themes of solidarity and climate change, prompting discord with the Trump administration.

Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, will forego participation in the upcoming G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Johannesburg, scheduled for February 20-21, 2025. This decision follows his criticism of South Africa’s governmental policies, which he deems anti-American. Instead, he will return to the United States from his recent Middle East tour, during which he engaged in talks addressing the war in Ukraine with Russian officials.

While Rubio is absent, top diplomats from Europe and China, including Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, are expected to attend the meeting, emphasizing a notable shift in American participation. Typically, a G20 assembly presents a prime opportunity for U.S. diplomats to advocate for national interests, particularly at the outset of a new administration.

Rubio’s absence signals a broader disregard from the Trump administration towards international cooperation. He has publicly dismissed South Africa’s G20 presidency agenda as it focuses on themes of solidarity, equality, and sustainability, which he rejects. He remarked that the gathering is being utilized to promote social equality frameworks.

Furthermore, his decision reflects a significant decline in U.S.-South Africa relations. Recently, President Trump issued an executive order halting U.S. aid to South Africa over controversial land reform laws and called the country’s foreign policy anti-American. This tension has implications for future collaboration as South Africa transitions the G20 presidency to the U.S. later this year.

Despite Rubio’s absence, South African officials remain optimistic regarding U.S. participation; the Foreign Minister affirmed that the U.S. will still be represented in some capacity at the G20. Analysts suggest that while U.S. engagement may be limited, there remains potential for progress during South Africa’s presidency, given support from other nations like the EU and China.

In summary, Marco Rubio’s decision to skip the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting due to disagreements with South African policies underscores a strain in U.S.-South Africa relations. While his absence might limit U.S. influence, South Africa’s G20 presidency may still achieve meaningful progress with support from other global leaders. The ongoing tensions illustrate an evolving dynamic in international diplomacy under the current U.S. administration.

Original Source: apnews.com