The US formally cautioned South Africa against pursuing a joint statement at this weekend’s G20 summit in Johannesburg, a meeting the Trump administration is boycotting, according to a document seen by Bloomberg.

The dispute arises as Africa hosts the G20 for the first time, with President Cyril Ramaphosa set to hand over the presidency to US President Donald Trump at year's end. Relations between the two leaders have deteriorated since a tense Oval Office meeting in May, followed by Trump’s decision to skip the summit entirely and reject South Africa’s G20 agenda focused on solidarity, equality, and sustainability. That rift has deepened amid Trump’s false claims that South Africa is committing genocide against White Afrikaners and seizing land.

In a diplomatic communication delivered on November 15, the US stated that it would not participate in preparatory talks or the summit itself and would block any document issued as a consensus G20 position. It insisted that any outcome must be labelled solely as a chair’s statement. South Africa rejected the warning. “We cannot allow coercion by absentia to become a viable tactic,” foreign ministry spokesman Chrispin Phiri said.

Despite US opposition, Pretoria is still seeking a joint declaration. Brazil, which joins the presidency next year, has publicly backed South Africa’s push. A European G20 official said their delegation would support either a joint declaration or a chair’s summary, while Germany has expressed full support for South Africa’s presidency.

Sherpa-level negotiations are underway in Johannesburg, with around 15 heads of state expected, including leaders from Brazil, India, and Turkey. Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will attend, while China’s President Xi Jinping will be represented by Premier Li Qiang. Negotiators are debating language on gender and climate, with Argentina resisting references to climate finance and global climate agreements.

Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said South Africa has tried to repair the relationship but said the “aggression is on the side of the US.”