US G20 Presidency Begins As South Africa Is Excluded From Sherpa Talks In Washington

The first meeting of G20 Sherpas under the United States’ presidency is due to begin in Washington on Monday, notably without South Africa’s participation.

Pretoria has formally raised the issue with fellow G20 member states, calling for its exclusion to be placed on the agenda of the two-day meeting for discussion and clarification.

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The request was outlined in a diplomatic note circulated to member states and later published by the Daily Maverick.

According to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, South Africa was officially notified by the US on 4 December that it would not be welcomed at any G20-related events hosted by the United States in 2026.

South Africa barred from G20 Sherpa meetings and 2026 summit

The move follows Washington’s decision to boycott large portions of South Africa’s G20 programme in 2025, including the Leaders’ Summit held in Johannesburg in November.

The latest development effectively extends that stance, with the US now excluding South Africa from its own G20 engagements.

Pretoria confirmed that it will not be invited to meetings of Sherpas, ministerial gatherings, or working groups, nor to the 2026 G20 Leaders’ Summit scheduled to take place in Miami.

US breaks from traditional G20 troika arrangement

Under normal G20 practice, the previous, current and incoming host countries work together as a troika to shape the group’s agenda. South Africa, however, says it has been informed that the US will not follow this convention during its presidency.

In its diplomatic note, South Africa urged its G20 partners to underline the difference between a country choosing not to attend and being actively excluded by the host nation.

“Furthermore, we are concerned by the precedent that will be set by the exclusion of South Africa from the G20 presidency of the United States of America in 2026,” the note verbale states.

The United Kingdom is expected to assume the G20 presidency from the United States in 2027.

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