Cape town: President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that South Africa has been notified by the United States about a potential change in its approach to participating in the G20 Leaders' Summit, indicating this as a positive development.
According to South African Government News Agency, President Ramaphosa shared this information during a press briefing following his meeting with European Council President Ant³nio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Discussions with Washington on this matter are reportedly ongoing.
"We have received notice from the United States, a notice which we are still in discussions with them over about a change of mind about participating in one shape, form or other in the Summit," President Ramaphosa stated.
The US message arrived just hours before the Leaders' Summit was set to begin, prompting urgent discussions to understand the implications and logistics of its potential involvement.
"This comes really at the late hour before the Summit begins, and so therefore we do need to engage in those types of discussions to see how practical it is and what it finally really means," he added.
Despite the timing, President Ramaphosa expressed optimism, viewing the US shift as encouraging and emphasizing the benefits of engagement over boycott politics.
"In a way, we see this as a positive sign, very positive because, as I've often said, boycott politics never work. It's always best to be inside the tent than being outside of the tent," he commented.
He underscored the importance of US involvement in global governance, noting that its presence strengthens multilateral cooperation.
"The tent is G20, all countries are here and the United States being biggest economy in the world needs to be here. So, it's pleasing to hear that there is a change of approach, and so we are still discussing how that will manifest," the President noted.
President Ramaphosa is expected to continue high-level engagements with global partners as the G20 Leaders' Summit approaches.
Earlier, he remarked that the G20 process is progressing decisively regardless of US participation, following President Donald Trump's threat to block any joint declaration under South Africa's G20 Presidency.
Addressing the media after the G20 Social Summit, President Ramaphosa expressed confidence in the nearing completion of negotiations, despite US objections, and praised the progress made across various G20 tracks.