France denies that it would cancel South Africa’s participation in the G7 summit under US pressure. Minister Barrot insists that the decision was sovereign.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on Thursday rejected claims that Paris had withdrawn South Africa’s (JAR) invitation to the G7 leaders’ summit in June after pressure from the United States. AFP previously reported on the withdrawal of the invitation of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, writes TASR.
- France has denied that it canceled the invitation to South Africa after American pressure.
- Ramaphosa’s spokesman claimed the G7 summit was considering a US boycott of his participation.
- Cyril Ramaphosa subsequently stated that there was no pressure on France.
A spokesman for the South African president said Ramaphosa was no longer invited to the summit due to threats of a boycott by Washington. Hours later, however, Ramaphosa said that, as far as he was aware, there was “no pressure from any country”.
France invites Kenya
According to Barrot, France, which chairs the G7 this year, invited the president of Kenya to the summit. “We did not succumb to any pressure. We made a decision that is in line with our intention to hold a G7 meeting focused on geo-economic issues,” he explained.
Barrot did not directly state whether JAR was originally invited to the summit. “We have always relied on South Africa and we respect the important role it plays in international relations,” he emphasized.
Tensions between the USA and South Africa
Relations between the US and South Africa have been strained since the inauguration of US President Donald Trump. He claims that the government in Pretoria is persecuting the white minority in the country. Washington is also bothered by the fact that South Africa has accused Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip at the International Criminal Court.
