Trump snubs Ramaphosa at G7 summit amid Iran-Israel conflict

US President Donald Trump snubbed President Cyril Ramaphosa at the G7 Summit in Canada, sparking speculation about the reason behind the snub. 

Sources and experts suggest the snub was due to the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, which started just days before the summit.

Iran is now part of BRICS of which South Africa plays a major role. 

Ramaphosa, who was accompanied by International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola, was an invited guest at the summit as the only African leader.

The G7 consists of the largest advanced economies like Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the US.

Ramaphosa met with all other leaders on the sidelines of the summit, including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and others. 

However, Trump left before meeting Ramaphosa who also concluded his working visit in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada on Tuesday night.

The two leaders did not meet as expected while Ramaphosa was seeking answers, from Trump, on trade agreements, including the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and US-SA tariffs.

Trump has been vocal about his stance on the Iran-Israel conflict, hinting at the possibility of US involvement and warning Iran to consider talks with Israel to de-escalate the conflict. 

This stance may have contributed to the snub, as South Africa has been calling for de-escalation in the conflict, a source said.

Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said that Ramaphosa will continue to assert South Africa's calls for de-escalation in conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere during his deliberations at the G7. 

"For some time now, President Ramaphosa has been quite consistent in calling for the de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East," Magwenya said.

“Part of that call was to ensure that this conflict that we’ve seen in Gaza does not extend to the rest of the region and so one of Canada’s priorities for this G7 is this threatening of peace and stability, where we are going to align with the position in so far as calling for a peaceful resolution of all conflicts, Russia and Ukraine, India and Pakistan, Iran and Israel. Now we will continue making that call that those conflicts have to stop,” Magwenya said.

However, Trump posted to social media hinting that the United States was considering involvement in the conflict between Israel and Iran, with Trump even raising the possibility of violence against Iran’s leadership.

Trump has been warning Iran that they should consider having talks with Israel to de-escalate the conflict.

The G7 Summit focused on global challenges and opportunities, including international peace and security, global economic stability and growth, and the digital transition. Ramaphosa participated in the G7 Outreach Session, where he put forward South Africa's objectives and interests.

"South Africa views the G7 as a strategic partner. We seek greater cooperation in areas such as investment, financing for development, international crime, climate change and just transitions, as well as inclusive global growth and development,” Ramaphosa said.

Political analyst Sandile Swana said Trump's snub of Ramaphosa was likely due to pressure on Ramaphosa to support the US position on the Iran-Israel conflict. 

"Trump is definitely putting pressure on Ramaphosa and trying to squeeze and push Ramaphosa...so the snubbing was part of that," Swana said.

He said Trump could not afford to be friendly to Ramaphosa when hostilities were escalating around Israel including Gaza and Iran.

“Trump wants South Africa to support the US…The issue of tariffs and all that is a bind for Trump because he wants to be friendly with Afrikaners and whites in South Africa…So he cannot deprive these white South Africans he wants to be friends with of the revenues that they can make from the US.

“The tariffs really pertain to the relationship between Trump and white South Africans and I still believe that Trump will give them what they want in exchange for them being a force against Ramaphosa and against the ANC…so that is an incentive, a pay-off for them for sustaining Trump's campaign in South Africa. This is just a white supremacist agenda,” Swana said.

mashudu.sadike@inl.co.za