Ramaphosa Responds to South Africa's Exclusion from Upcoming G7 Summit

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has downplayed reports that his invitation to the forthcoming G7 summit in France has been withdrawn, saying non-attendance by a country outside the bloc should surprise no-one.

Reports on Thursday claimed the US had put huge pressure on France to rescind Ramaphosa's invitation to the summit scheduled for June, suggesting that US President Donald Trump had threatened to boycott the event if the South African leader was present.

The invitation to the G7 does not mean that you're being snubbed if you're not invited or you're being ignored, said Ramaphosa.

France has since denied yielding to US pressure, announcing instead that it had decided to invite Kenya.

The G7 hosts indicated that the inclusion of Kenya, along with leaders from South Korea, India, and Brazil, was part of their efforts to address global economic imbalances.

A South African official stated that the country was excluded after initially being invited, due to sustained pressure from the US. However, Ramaphosa asserted that according to his information, there had been no pressure from any country.

He further noted, So many countries around the world don't get invited to the G7, and we are not a member. When we do go, we are invited, and we take a message there. This reiterates his stance that South Africa’s potential absence from the summit should not be viewed negatively.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot reiterated that the country opted for a streamlined G7, confirming that they had not capitulated to any external demands.

Relations between the US and South Africa have soured under Trump's administration, marked by disagreements over trade and diplomatic strategies. Tensions were further exacerbated with conflicting statements about the treatment of South Africans, particularly regarding land reforms and accusations of a 'white genocide'.

The South African presidency has expressed ongoing efforts to reset ties with the US, yet insists that its relationship with France remains strong despite the missed G7 invitation.