Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has said that Donald Trump has no authority to prevent South African President Cyril Ramaphosa from attending the upcoming G20 summit in Miami.
While speaking in Hannover, Germany, alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Lula insisted that Ramaphosa must take part in the gathering. He stressed that exclusion based on Trump’s position would be unacceptable.
He added that he had personally urged Ramaphosa to attend, saying the South African leader should not stay away simply because of opposition from Trump.
Tensions between South Africa and the Trump administration have escalated in recent months, particularly after the expulsion of former ambassador Ebrahim Rasool following critical remarks he made about Trump.
The US has also moved to cut financial assistance to South Africa, with Trump accusing the government of enabling what he described as a “white genocide” against Afrikaner communities, claims that have been widely disputed.
As part of his response, Trump introduced a programme offering migration and asylum pathways for white Afrikaners who believe they are facing persecution.
Diplomatic friction has further deepened over South Africa’s decision to bring a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, accusing it of genocide against Palestinians.