South Africa to face hostile United States at G20

As South Africa prepares to host the G20 Summit in Johannesburg next month, foreign affairs journalist Peter Fabricius warns that the country faces a diplomatic tightrope - and it's one, he says, which could unravel if tensions with the United States escalate.

Writing in the Daily Maverick, he notes that South Africa has pursued an ambitious and development-driven G20 agenda, but suggests the US may derail this.

Washington has made no secret of its hostility toward many of South Africa’s priorities and has reportedly dismissed several planned themes of the summit.

As it stands, US President Donald Trump has indicated that he won't attend and instead will send his vice president, JD Vance.

"But that could change if circumstances change in the next couple of weeks," says Fabricius, adding that Vance himself can be very obstructive.

"Some people are saying, will he do a Munich, in other words, will he come here and berate everybody?"

He says South Africa is in an awkward position as it tries to keep its agenda intact while the US has refused to accept much of it.

"Do they go ahead and effectively have a G19, or do they try to accommodate, and the danger then is you dilute your agenda.

“The fact that they’re taking over means you’d think there would be some commitment on their side to keep things ticking over at least until that point.”