US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced his decision to skip the upcoming G20 meeting in South Africa, following President Donald Trump's recent threats to withdraw funding from the nation.
The G20 foreign ministers' meeting is scheduled for February 20-21 in Johannesburg, where South Africa holds the G20 presidency until November 2025.
Trump's remarks have heightened tensions, as he accused South Africa of land confiscation and mistreatment of certain groups without substantiating his claims, threatening to cut US aid unless an investigation occurs.
In defense, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa asserted that the country’s land reform policies aim to ensure fair access to land, denying any confiscation.
Rubio supported Trump's stance, expressing concerns on X (formerly Twitter) about South Africa's actions, which he characterized as expropriating private property and using the G20 platform to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and climate change agendas.
He stressed the importance of prioritizing US national interests and avoiding the misuse of taxpayer funds or support for anti-American sentiments.
The land ownership debate in South Africa is deeply rooted in its colonial and apartheid history, where Black South Africans, despite comprising 80% of the population, own only 4% of farmland, while white landowners control approximately 75%.
To tackle this disparity, Ramaphosa recently enacted a law permitting land expropriation for public interest.
The issue has also attracted criticism from figures like Elon Musk, a South African-born billionaire and Trump supporter, who labeled the country's land laws as "openly racist," while Trump continues to oppose DEI initiatives, viewing them as anti-merit.