Ramaphosa to US: 'We won’t be bullied' as G20 declaration pushes ahead

President Cyril Ramaphosa says the G20 declaration will proceed with or without the United States, insisting that South Africa “will not agree to be bullied by anyone.”

“We will have a declaration. The talks are going extremely well. I am confident that we are moving towards the declaration,” he said. 

“And they are now just dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s.”

Asked whether the G20 summit will continue without the US government, he did not hesitate.

“Well, without the United States the whole process of the G20 is moving forward… we will not be bullied. We will not agree to be bullied,” he said.

Ramaphosa spoke on the sidelines of receiving the declaration from the G20 Social Summit in Boksburg on Thursday. 

He said that despite global headwinds and geopolitical shifts, inequality must remain at the forefront of the G20 agenda.

Earlier on Thursday, IOL News reported that the United States had warned South Africa not to issue a joint leaders’ declaration at the G20 summit in Johannesburg this weekend, saying it would block any outcome presented as a consensus position.

In a diplomatic communication delivered to Pretoria on November 15, Washington said it would not take part in preparatory meetings before the summit or in the gathering of world leaders.

According to Bloomberg News, which reviewed a copy of the document, the US told South Africa that it would not support any declaration described as a consensus G20 position.

The note reportedly said Pretoria’s priorities for the summit were at odds with Washington’s policy positions.

“The US opposes issuance of any G20 summit outcome document under the premise of a consensus G20 position, without US agreement,” the communication said. 

“If a deliverable is issued under your presidency, it will be framed solely as a chair’s statement to accurately reflect the absence of consensus.”

Despite Washington’s opposition, South Africa is continuing its efforts to secure a joint declaration when the two-day summit ends on Sunday. Securing a declaration is a top priority for Pretoria, which has sought to build on the agenda advanced by recent G20 hosts from the Global South - Indonesia, India and Brazil.

The United States will assume the G20 presidency in December.

South African officials have publicly rejected the idea of ending the summit without a statement. Earlier in the week, International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola told journalists in Johannesburg that there would be a declaration at the end of the summit.

The Johannesburg summit is the first G20 gathering to be hosted on African soil and was expected to showcase the continent’s growing influence in global policy debates. 

However, the US boycott - and its insistence that no joint declaration be issued - has cast a shadow over proceedings.

A leaders’ declaration would indicate broad agreement among G20 members on issues such as climate finance, sustainable development and debt relief. 

If the US stance prevails, the outcome may instead take the form of a “chair’s statement,” reflecting only the host’s perspective rather than a consensus of all members.

The summit concludes on Sunday, with President Cyril Ramaphosa set to hand over the G20 presidency to the United States next month.

Ramaphosa told the gathering on Thursday afternoon that their input would help guide the agenda of government leaders when they meet this weekend to chart the road ahead.

He said South Africa embarked on its G20 presidency determined to advance the principles of equality, solidarity and sustainability.

“Over the course of the past year, most of the countries of the G20 have rallied in support of these principles, understanding that they are fundamental to our shared future.

“We commend, applaud and thank the B20 for having imbued these principles with meaning and relevance.

“I congratulate the B20 team and everyone from across the globe who participated in this worthy effort, and who are now determined to be part of the important work that lies ahead in building a better future for all.”

IOL