US treasury secretary withdraws from G20 finance ministers' meeting in SA

JOHANNESBURG - United States (US) Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent on Thursday morning announced that he would no longer attend the G20 finance ministers' meeting in South Africa.

Bessent, who had previously confirmed his attendance, posted on X, saying that due to obligations in Washington, he would not be coming for the gathering next week.

He said that an official from Treasury would take his place.

Just hours after South Africa’s Minister of International Relations Ronald Lamola told the SABC that Bessent had confirmed his attendance for next week’s meeting, Bessent announced that he would not be coming.

This is the second secretary from the US to reject an invite to South Africa.

Bessent, while measured in his posture, is following in the footsteps of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who relied on misinformation about South African affairs in making his decision.

Bessent said he remains in regular contact with his global counterparts, working to advance US President Donald Trump’s agenda.