South Africa: will not succumb to US coercion of "G20 must not issue declarations"

In response to the US government's request for South Africa not to push for the release of a consensus declaration at the 20th summit of the Group of Twenty (G20) leaders, the spokesperson for the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation said on the 19th that the US had lost its "speaking" qualifications due to boycotting the summit, and South Africa would not yield to US coercion. It is reported that the US Embassy in South Africa recently informed the South African government, reiterating that the US would not participate in the 20th summit of G20 leaders to be held in Johannesburg on the 22nd and 23rd of this month, and opposed to releasing any summit outcomes document based on the G20 consensus without the consent of the US. The communication stated that the US only accepts the "chair's statement" reflecting a "lack of consensus." South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation spokesperson said that the US would not be able to influence the conclusion of the summit due to its absence, South Africa would not yield to coercion, and would not allow coercion to become a feasible strategy "because it would only lead to paralysis of the institution and the dissolution of collective action."