US pressure forces Paris to withdraw invitation ahead of Évian summit…reports Asian Lite News Desk
South Africa has been disinvited from the upcoming G7 Leaders’ Summit scheduled to take place in June in Évian-les-Bains, with officials citing pressure from the United States as the key reason behind the move.
The development was confirmed by the spokesperson for President Cyril Ramaphosa, who said that Paris withdrew its invitation after Washington signalled it would boycott the summit if South Africa participated. The decision marks a setback for Pretoria’s diplomatic engagement with leading global economies.
According to presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya, the South African government was informed that the US had raised strong objections to its presence at the summit. He said the threat of a boycott by Washington left Emmanuel Macron with little room to proceed with the earlier invitation.
Macron had personally invited Ramaphosa to attend the summit during the G20 Summit held in Johannesburg last November, reflecting France’s intent to broaden engagement with key Global South partners. However, the invitation has now been rescinded amid growing geopolitical tensions.
Relations between South Africa and the United States have deteriorated sharply since the return of Donald Trump to the White House. Trump has made controversial and widely disputed claims about a “white genocide” in South Africa, while also criticising the country’s domestic policies, including its Black economic empowerment framework.
The rift has widened further over Pretoria’s foreign policy stance, particularly its decision to pursue a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. The move has drawn strong opposition from Washington, a key ally of Israel, adding another layer of strain to bilateral ties.
The Trump administration had earlier boycotted the G20 summit hosted by South Africa, signalling a broader diplomatic chill between the two countries. Analysts say these developments have contributed to Washington’s hardline stance on Pretoria’s participation in high-level international forums such as the G7.
Despite the setback, South Africa has sought to downplay the impact of the decision on its relations with France. Magwenya said the withdrawal of the invitation would not affect the “strength and close nature” of bilateral ties between Pretoria and Paris.
He also emphasised that South Africa remains committed to constructive engagement with the United States, expressing confidence that relations between the two nations would endure beyond the current political cycle in Washington.
The episode underscores the growing influence of geopolitical rivalries on multilateral platforms and highlights the challenges faced by countries seeking to balance relations with major global powers. As the G7 summit approaches, the controversy is likely to fuel further debate over inclusivity and political alignment within international forums.
