Rubio rejects G20 summit invitation in protest against South Africa’s land reforms

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on social media that he would not attend the upcoming G20 summit in Johannesburg, criticizing South Africa's policies.

Rubio’s remarks were a response to South Africa’s ongoing land expropriation efforts, which he described as expropriating private property under the guise of promoting "solidarity, equality, and sustainability" through the G20 platform, Caliber.Az reports.

I will NOT attend the G20 summit in Johannesburg.

South Africa is doing very bad things. Expropriating private property. Using G20 to promote “solidarity, equality, & sustainability.” In other words: DEI and climate change.

My job is to advance America’s national interests, not…

— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) February 5, 2025

The US Secretary of State’s decision follows mounting criticism from influential figures in the US, particularly regarding the South African government's land policies.

The land issue has been a point of contention in South Africa for years, with the government’s efforts to address the historical injustices of apartheid drawing significant criticism from conservatives, including US-based South African billionaire Elon Musk. Musk had previously accused the South African government of engaging in “genocide” against white citizens, especially after the passing of a controversial land expropriation law. According to Musk, the law is “openly racist.”

In response to Musk's accusations, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa defended the country’s actions. Ramaphosa stated that the government has not confiscated any land and dismissed the allegations of racial genocide as baseless. He also reassured the public that the government was committed to addressing land reform without infringing upon private property rights.

The land expropriation issue escalated when US President Donald Trump announced a suspension of all future funding to South Africa, citing the "confiscation" of land and the treatment of certain groups of people. Trump took to his Truth Social platform to express his concerns, stating: “South Africa is confiscating land, and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY. I will be cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation of this situation has been completed!”

In December, Ramaphosa signed a bill that allows the government to expropriate land with "nil compensation" in cases deemed to benefit the public good. This policy has sparked outrage from critics who argue that it unfairly targets white landowners.

The land expropriation debate has garnered further attention as it aligns with broader discussions on race, reparations, and inequality in South Africa, drawing both domestic and international scrutiny.

As tensions over land reform continue, the situation is expected to remain a key point of contention in US-South African relations.

By Tamilla Hasanova