France has rescinded South Africa’s invitation to the 2026 G7 Summit following sustained pressure from the United States, which threatened to boycott the gathering if Pretoria participated .
Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya confirmed that President Cyril Ramaphosa has accepted France’s decision and that South Africa will not seek further clarification . “We’ve learnt that due to sustained pressure, France has had to withdraw its invitation to South Africa to attend the G7 meeting,” Magwenya told AFP . “We are told that the Americans threatened to boycott the G7 if South Africa was invited” .
South Africa’s Measured Response
Ramaphosa struck a measured tone, noting that South Africa’s absence from the summit should not come as a surprise, as the country is not a G7 member and has not attended every summit . “There are so many countries around the world that don’t get invited to the G7. So if we don’t go to this one, it should never be a surprise to anyone,” he said .
The 52nd G7 Summit is scheduled to take place in Évian-les-Bains, France, from 15 to 17 June 2026 . Other non-G7 guest nations confirmed for the summit include Brazil, India, and South Korea .
Strained US-South Africa Relations
The diplomatic row marks the latest episode in months of fractured ties between Washington and Pretoria . Tensions have escalated under the Trump administration over multiple issues:
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South Africa’s genocide case against US ally Israel at the International Court of Justice
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Trump’s discredited claims that white Afrikaners face persecution, which he has publicly raised with Ramaphosa
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The US president’s criticism of South Africa’s racial justice policies
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Trump’s boycott of a G20 summit in Johannesburg in November 2025
Tariffs and Trade Disputes
Trump slapped 30 percent tariffs on most South African exports last year—the highest for sub-Saharan Africa . However, the US Supreme Court has since overruled Trump’s tariff policy, finding that the executive branch exceeded its authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act . The court ruled that the law does not grant the president the power to impose broad, across-the-board tariffs without explicit authorization from Congress .
Following the ruling, Trump announced new 10 percent global tariffs, later increased to 15 percent, under a different legal authority . The temporary measure is expected to remain in force for 150 days before congressional review .
Personal Invitation Withdrawn
French President Emmanuel Macron personally invited Ramaphosa to the G7 during the G20 summit hosted in South Africa last year . The invitation was extended at a time when France held the G7 presidency . Pretoria has stressed that the withdrawal will not impact bilateral relations with France .
Commitment to Constructive Engagement
Despite the diplomatic setback, Magwenya affirmed South Africa’s commitment to constructive engagement with the US. “Notwithstanding all of these developments, South Africa remains committed to engage constructively with the US,” he said . “The diplomatic relationship between USA and South Africa predate the Trump administration and they will outlive the current White House term of office” .
Ramaphosa is reportedly “getting closer to appointing” a new South African ambassador to the US, following the expulsion of Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool in March 2025 after he criticised Trump’s MAGA movement .
