South Africa Refuses G20 Handover to Lower-Rank US Envoy says 'US can send anyone at right level'

The G20 summit concluded in South Africa with a diplomatic controversy involving the United States and the G20 presidency handover.

South Africa, the current host, refused to pass the rotating G20 presidency to what it described as a “junior” US representative, creating an unusual standoff.

The US had boycotted the two-day summit, but is due to take over as G20 president for 2026, intensifying expectations about the handover protocol.

The main point of tension stemmed from US President Donald Trump’s boycott of the summit, which he linked to accusations that South Africa was pursuing “racist and anti-White” policies affecting the country’s Afrikaner White minority.

South Africa felt slighted by the US decision to send a lower-level diplomatic official, arguing that only a head of state, special presidential envoy, or minister would be an appropriate representative for such a high-level event.

South African foreign minister Ronald Lamola stated that the US could “send anyone at the right level,” emphasizing that the G20 is a leaders’ summit expected to be attended by high-ranking officials.

South Africa clarified that the formal handover might occur later—potentially at South Africa’s foreign ministry building—rather than at the summit, due to the perceived protocol breach.

Diplomatic friction increased when South African President Ramaphosa said the US expressed last-minute interest in joining the summit, a claim the White House denied, insisting its officials would attend only the formal handover.

Tensions were further heightened as South Africa released the summit’s leaders’ declaration on the opening day, deviating from the tradition of releasing it at a summit’s close, and over US objections to the focus on climate change and global wealth inequality.

The controversy reflects deeper US-South Africa disagreements and underscores the importance of diplomatic protocols at major global summits like the G20.