Marco Rubio: U.S. to Skip G20 Talks Over 'Anti-American' Agenda

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Posted by NewAdmin on 2025-02-06 08:45:46 |

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Rubio’s Decision to Boycott G20
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Wednesday that he would skip the upcoming G20 foreign ministers' talks in South Africa, accusing the host government of having an “anti-American” agenda. Rubio’s decision follows comments from President Donald Trump, who criticized South Africa’s controversial land reform policies, which aim to address inequalities from the apartheid era. Rubio’s boycott will take place on February 20-21 in Johannesburg.

Criticism of South Africa’s Agenda
In a post on X, Rubio echoed Trump's tone, accusing South Africa of expropriating private property and using the G20 platform to promote solidarity, equality, and sustainability—terms Rubio linked to the promotion of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) and climate change policies. Rubio emphasized that his role is to advance America’s national interests, asserting, “I will not waste taxpayer money or coddle anti-Americanism."

South African Response to Criticism
Earlier this week, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa rejected Trump’s claims that South Africa was "confiscating" land. Ramaphosa defended the country’s land reform policies and expressed a willingness to explain them to the U.S. government. On Tuesday, Ramaphosa even spoke with Elon Musk, a top Trump ally, to address concerns over the spread of “disinformation” related to South Africa’s land issues.

Implications for the G20
South Africa’s land ownership remains a contentious issue, with most farmland still under white ownership decades after apartheid ended. The absence of the United States—the world’s largest economy—at the G20 would be a significant blow to the forum, which is meant to represent the world’s largest economies. This also marks a missed opportunity for Rubio to meet with his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, as Trump pushes for diplomacy on the Ukraine war.

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