German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for South Africa to take part in the December G20 summit, arguing that wider participation is needed for economic cooperation amid diverging national interests.
At the Oct. 21 Berlin Global Dialogue, Merz pointed to South Africa and the African Union as G20 members. The German government’s published account of his speech quoted him saying, “Obviously, Africa belongs at the table.” Merz said governments with different interests still need to work together on economic questions.
President Donald Trump said in a Nov. 26, 2025, social media post that South Africa would not be invited to the U.S.-hosted summit. He cited an alleged failure by South Africa to hand over the G20 presidency. The South African government says the handover took place.
Trump separately invoked alleged persecution of white South Africans to explain why the United States did not attend the November 2025 G20 leaders’ meeting in Johannesburg. South Africa rejects that allegation. In a related dispute over U.S. policy, President Cyril Ramaphosa said his government was preparing for possible exclusion while talks with Washington continued, as covered in EconoTimes’ report on South Africa’s U.S. trade access concerns.
South Africa chaired the G20 in 2025 and said it would continue to participate as a full member. The Johannesburg summit declaration called for every member to take part in G20 meetings on equal terms. Merz made a similar appeal in November 2025, according to a German government account.
Merz also said Germany had proposed a “Miami Growth Agenda” to the United States, focused on reducing bureaucracy, pursuing structural reforms and encouraging investment. He called for discussions on artificial intelligence, energy supplies, unfair trade practices and rising public debt.
The summit is scheduled for Dec. 14-15 at Trump National Doral in Doral, Florida, according to the U.S. Trade Representative.
