Rubio says South Africa's G20 chairmanship "was an exercise in spite, division, and radical agendas"

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is hosting a G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Atlanta on Oct. 30-31, and South Africa was absent after not receiving an invitation. The exclusion follows Rubio’s December 2025 statement that Washington would not ask South Africa to take part in G20 events during the U.S. presidency; he criticized South Africa’s conduct during its G20 chairmanship and said U.S. objections to agreed statements had not been heeded. South Africa rejected that position, saying it belongs to the G20 in its own right and will remain a full participant. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun then backed South Africa’s continued involvement, describing it as a significant G20 member. The dispute highlights friction over participation as Washington hosts the forum.