PARIS: France has rejected claims that it excluded South Africa from the upcoming G7 summit under pressure from the United States, saying the decision was part of a broader effort to streamline participation and include other partners.
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The controversy emerged after the office of Cyril Ramaphosa initially suggested that South Africa had been removed from the guest list due to pressure from Washington. However, Ramaphosa later clarified that, based on available information, there had been no such external pressure.
‘We were not snubbed!’ – South Africa’s Ramaphosa rejects claims of US-led G7 exclusion
‘My information is that there’s been no pressure from any country, the United States or any other country,’ Ramaphosa stated.
Earlier, Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said France… pic.twitter.com/uOE8e7IqzG
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0French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated that France had “not yielded to any pressure” and had instead opted for a more focused summit format. He confirmed that Kenya had been invited in place of South Africa, partly because France will host a separate Africa-focused summit in Nairobi in May.
A White House official also supported France’s position, saying the decision to invite Kenya followed discussions among G7 members and denying any US request to exclude South Africa. The official added that Washington welcomed Kenya’s participation.
Tensions between the United States and South Africa have increased in recent years over several issues, including Pretoria’s stance on Israel and trade disputes under President Donald Trump. Despite these differences, South African officials emphasised that diplomatic relations remain intact and are expected to endure beyond current political disagreements.
French President Emmanuel Macron had previously invited Ramaphosa to attend the summit during the G20 meeting in Johannesburg last year. The G7 often includes guest nations alongside its core members.
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The summit, scheduled to take place in Evian-les-Bains from June 15 to 17, will also host leaders from India, Brazil, and South Korea as part of broader international engagement.