South Africa has been disinvited from the upcoming Group of Seven summit in France, despite initially receiving an invitation. A spokesperson for President Cyril Ramaphosa first said the decision followed threats from the United States to boycott the meeting if South Africa attended, though Ramaphosa later stated he had received no information indicating pressure from any country. France said it had chosen to streamline the summit’s guest list and invited Kenya instead.

Tensions between Washington and Pretoria have escalated over several issues, including South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide and criticism from President Donald Trump over South Africa’s racial justice policies. Trump previously imposed steep tariffs on South African exports and boycotted a Group of Twenty summit in Johannesburg, further straining ties.

Despite the diplomatic rift, South Africa said its relationship with France remains strong and expressed a commitment to maintaining constructive engagement with the United States. Pretoria is also in the process of appointing a new ambassador to Washington as both countries navigate ongoing disagreements.