The U.S. president announced via social media last November that South Africa would not be invited to the next G20 meeting.
During his speech, Wadephul highlighted his desire to build closer ties with South Africa, despite differences on significant geopolitical issues like Russia’s war in Ukraine, the Gaza conflict, and China. As a BRICS member, South Africa historically maintains close relations with Moscow and Beijing.
“In some disputed matters we can agree to disagree,” he stated. “And at the same time keep on working together. What matters is that we are committed to the same international principles.”
Wadephul also claimed that Russia “continues to pose an existential security threat to us,” as demonstrated by Russia’s Iskander ballistic missiles in Kaliningrad, which “would take only a matter of minutes to reach Berlin.”
Regarding China, he suggested that both countries should cooperate more as they are “too dependent on supply chains coming from one country. We’re too dependent on one country as being the most important market.”
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