South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa will not attend the G7 Summit scheduled to take place in Evian‑les‑Bains, France, this June. South African officials say the United States pressured France to withdraw his invitation, a claim French authorities have denied, stating instead that Kenya was invited this year.

The development comes amid months of rising tension between Washington and Pretoria over trade disputes, diplomatic disagreements and South Africa’s international positions, including its stance on global conflicts and its alignment on key geopolitical issues. Analysts say the withdrawal raises questions about South Africa’s relationship with Western partners and what this means for its global diplomatic posture.

For more on what this development signals for South Africa–US relations and the country’s wider role on the global stage, we speak to Dr Terence McNamee, Senior Fellow at the Montreal Institute for Global Security.