Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's decision to skip the upcoming G20 meeting in Cape Town underscores deepening tensions between the U.S. and South Africa. This unusual move comes shortly after Secretary of State Marco Rubio also boycotted a foreign ministers' meeting due to anti-American sentiments. The Trump administration's preference for bilateral negotiations over multilateral discussions further exacerbates the rift, particularly regarding differing views on climate change and governance themes of the G20. This gathering would have offered Bessent his first chance to engage with major global financial leaders amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
The decision to forgo such a major economic gathering is highly unusual for a Treasury secretary, particularly one who was confirmed to his post three weeks ago.
The theme for the meetings this year is Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability, which the Trump administration considers at odds with its views on climate change and diversity policies.
#us-south-africa-relations #trump-administration #g20-meeting #multilateral-discussions #global-finance
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