United States must send officials to Joburg if it wants G20 handover, says Minister Lamola
Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola delivered the update during a media briefing at the Johannesburg Expo Centre in Nasrec on Monday
Image: G20 South Africa/ X
The United States will have to send officials to South Africa if Washington wants to be formally handed the reins of the G20, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola has said.
The US is set to take over the G20 Presidency from South Africa and host the summit in 2026. However, Washington's decision to stay away from this weekend’s Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg raises questions about the ceremonial handover.
Lamola delivered the update during a media briefing at the Johannesburg Expo Centre in Nasrec on Monday, where he was joined by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana. The summit, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, will mark the culmination of South Africa’s G20 Presidency.
‘If they want the ceremonial handover, they must come’
Lamola said South Africa was fully prepared to transfer the presidency — but the US needed to be present to receive it.
“We are here, and we have said we are ready to hand over to the United States. The handover is really ceremonial. We remain prepared to hand over here in South Africa, in Johannesburg,” Lamola said.
“If they want a ceremonial handover, they must come to the Leaders’ Summit and we will hand over to them. If they don’t come, we will make pronouncements about the outcome of the summit and the Leaders’ Declaration.”
He added that it would then be up to Washington to decide how it formally begins its own presidency.
“Maybe they will call a meeting and say: we are now starting. It’s really up to them. Our job will end when there is a declaration. From that date, South Africa is done with its role.”
Lamola: US absence is ‘non-attendance’
Asked how Pretoria viewed the US stance, Lamola said the reality was simple.
“They have said it themselves that they are not coming. You can call it whatever — someone can call it a boycott, someone can call it non-attendance — but the reality is that they are not attending, they are not here. We view it as non-attendance. They are absent,” he said.
“In their absence, the countries that are present must take a decision. That is what is currently unfolding. The sherpas are negotiating the Leaders’ Declaration. We are moving towards making a decision in terms of a Leaders’ Declaration. Later in the week you will hear what is the outcome.”
Lamola said South Africa was actively persuading attending countries to agree on a Leaders’ Declaration before the summit closes.
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