Russia has challenged Washington’s decision to exclude South Africa from the 2026 G20 meetings, arguing that the United States does not have the authority to unilaterally prevent an existing member from participating in the international forum.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov raised the issue during diplomatic engagements on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, as tensions between Pretoria and Washington continue to affect preparations for the December summit.
The dispute has gained renewed attention following US President Donald Trump’s invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the G20 leaders’ summit in Miami.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the invitation after meeting Lavrov in New York, saying the gathering would provide Putin with an opportunity to engage with Trump and other world leaders.
The contrasting positions on South Africa and Russia have added another diplomatic dimension to the upcoming summit, with Pretoria continuing to challenge its exclusion while Moscow questions the authority of the rotating G20 host.
Moscow Questions Washington’s Authority Over G20 Participation
Lavrov has argued that the United States, as the 2026 G20 host, cannot independently determine which existing members are allowed to attend meetings of the group.
According to Russia’s position, invitations to a G20 summit should serve primarily as notifications informing existing members of the meeting’s date and location, rather than discretionary decisions through which a host country can select participating members.
Moscow has previously criticised Washington’s decision to exclude South Africa, with Lavrov describing the move as unacceptable.
The Russian foreign minister has also indicated that Moscow would raise the matter through BRICS, the grouping that includes South Africa and Russia, as well as within the G20 itself.
South Africa remains a full member of the G20, despite the US decision concerning this year’s meetings.
Pretoria maintains that its membership status, including its position as a founding member, entitles it to participate in the organisation’s proceedings.
International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola reiterated this position during a discussion at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.
“We are a founding member of the G20 and by right, we have to be there,” Lamola said.
However, the South African government has also ruled out attending the US-hosted meetings without an invitation.
Lamola has further rejected the prospect of Pretoria encouraging other G20 members to boycott the summit in protest over South Africa’s exclusion.
The government has instead maintained that it remains willing to participate should Washington reconsider its position.
Putin’s Invitation Adds To Diplomatic Tensions
The United States is scheduled to host the 2026 G20 leaders’ summit in Miami in December.
Trump’s invitation to Putin has drawn attention because Russia remains a member of the G20, while South Africa’s participation in the US-hosted meetings remains disputed.
Rubio said the summit would offer Putin an opportunity to engage directly with Trump and other international leaders. The invitation was confirmed following the meeting between the US and Russian foreign ministers during the UN General Assembly.
Putin remains subject to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2023 over alleged war crimes relating to the deportation of Ukrainian children.
The warrant concerns allegations before the court and does not constitute a final criminal conviction. The United States is not a member of the ICC.
The invitation has therefore added another issue to the diplomatic discussions surrounding the Miami summit, although the immediate dispute involving Pretoria centres on South Africa’s status within the G20.
Pretoria Seeks Participation Without A Boycott
Lamola has expressed disappointment that other G20 members have not spoken out more forcefully against South Africa’s exclusion.
Pretoria maintains that it should be able to participate as a full member, but has made clear that it will not attend without an invitation or seek to disrupt the wider summit through a boycott campaign.
The disagreement comes amid broader tensions between South Africa and the United States, with the G20 dispute becoming a further point of contention between the two governments.
For South Africa, the central question is whether its existing membership and founding-member status should guarantee participation in meetings hosted by another member.
For Russia, the issue concerns the limits of authority exercised by a rotating G20 presidency and whether a host country can independently determine which existing members may attend.
Washington has not announced a change to its position on South Africa’s participation. Pretoria, meanwhile, has indicated that it remains prepared to attend if the United States reverses its decision.
With the December summit approaching, the dispute over South Africa’s participation remains unresolved.