Congress Leader Challenges PM Modi Over South Africa's G20 Exclusion
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh launched a sharp political attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, demanding to know whether he would defend South Africa's interests with his "good friend" Donald Trump. This confrontation comes in response to the US President's controversial announcement that South Africa would be excluded from next year's G20 Summit in Miami.
Political Showdown Over Global South Representation
In a strongly worded post on social media platform X, Ramesh directly challenged the Prime Minister's diplomatic stance. "President Trump has announced that South Africa will not be a part of the next G20 Summit in the USA," Ramesh wrote. He continued with a pointed question: "The Prime Minister is the self-proclaimed champion of both Africa and the Global South. Will he take up South Africa's cause with his good friend and ensure that it will get to attend the next G20 Summit - as it is perfectly entitled to?"
The controversy began on Wednesday when Trump made his announcement on Truth Social, declaring he would block South Africa's participation in the 2026 summit hosted by the United States. "Therefore, at my direction, South Africa will NOT be receiving an invitation to the 2026 G20, which will be hosted in the Great City of Miami, Florida next year," Trump stated unequivocally.
Deepening Diplomatic Crisis and Historical Ties
Trump justified his decision by claiming that Washington had suspended all payments and subsidies to Pretoria. He accused the South African government of failing to address alleged human rights abuses against white communities - allegations that South African authorities have firmly rejected.
Ramesh countered Trump's rationale by emphasizing South Africa's legitimate standing in the G20. He stressed that South Africa has been a G20 member from the very beginning because it represents the continent's largest economy by GDP, not due to any special favor from the United States. The Congress leader highlighted that the country has maintained a "valued presence" in every G20 Summit since the inaugural meeting in Washington DC back in 2008.
The Congress leader elaborated on the profound connections between India and South Africa through multiple international platforms:
- Both nations are founding members of BRICS alongside Brazil, Russia, and China
- They collaborate through the IBSA Dialogue Forum with Brazil
- They work together in the BASIC coalition on climate change issues
Ramesh also invoked the powerful historical bond between the two nations, recalling how Mahatma Gandhi transformed from an Indian lawyer in South Africa to the leader of India's independence movement. "It has often been remarked that an Indian lawyer went to South Africa in the late 19th century and returned home as a revolutionary in the early years of the 20th century to lead India's independence movement," he noted.
Growing International Criticism and India's Moral Responsibility
Another senior Congress leader, Anand Sharma, joined the criticism, calling Trump's decision a clear violation of the G20's founding principles of equality among nations. Sharma urged India to adopt a "firm position" and mobilize the Global South against what he termed as "new imperialism."
"It is an insult to the African continent and the Global South. India has a moral duty to take a firm position and mobilise the Global South to collectively reject the new imperialism," Sharma asserted, emphasizing India's leadership role in defending developing nations' interests.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa responded to the development by labeling Trump's move as "regrettable," suggesting it was driven more by misinformation than proper diplomatic engagement. His office clarified that South Africa had properly handed over G20 presidency responsibilities to a US Embassy representative during the Johannesburg Summit earlier this year, following established protocols.
The escalating situation presents a significant test for India's foreign policy and its commitment to Global South solidarity, particularly given Prime Minister Modi's frequent assertions of strong personal relationships with world leaders including Donald Trump.
