U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will not attend the upcoming G20 meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors in Cape Town, an unexpected decision given the United States’ traditionally dominant role in global financial discussions. His absence comes at a time of growing tensions between Washington and Pretoria over political and economic issues.
Bessent announced his decision on X, citing “obligations in Washington” as the reason for skipping the summit. He stated that a senior U.S. official would represent the country in his place and expressed his intent to engage with global financial leaders at future meetings hosted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank in Washington. Sources confirmed that G20 member states had been informed of Bessent’s absence, with one official suggesting that his duties were directly linked to U.S. President Donald Trump. However, it remains unclear whether these obligations are related to a possible summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump recently stated that he “probably” intends to meet Putin to discuss efforts to end the Ukraine conflict, a sentiment echoed by the Kremlin, though no specific date has been set. The White House and the U.S. Treasury Department have not provided further details on Bessent’s schedule.
The G20, which brings together the world’s largest economies, including the U.S., China, and Russia, has played a critical role in addressing global economic challenges such as inflation, debt relief, trade imbalances, and climate change. South Africa, holding the G20 presidency from December 2024 to November 2025, is preparing to lead discussions on these pressing issues at the Cape Town gathering. However, relations between the U.S. and South Africa have become strained following recent remarks by Trump about South Africa’s land policies. Earlier this month, Trump accused the South African government of land seizures and discrimination against certain groups. In response, the White House announced plans to offer humanitarian relief and potential resettlement options for Afrikaners, a group of predominantly white descendants of Dutch and French settlers.
Amid these tensions, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also canceled a planned visit to Johannesburg for the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting. The decision by top U.S. officials to skip key diplomatic engagements in South Africa raises concerns over Washington’s stance toward Pretoria’s leadership on the global stage.
Bessent’s absence has drawn criticism from economic experts, who see it as a missed opportunity for crucial discussions. Mark Sobel, a former senior U.S. Treasury official and chair of the U.S. branch of the OMFIF think tank, called it a “huge error.” He emphasized that the summit would have allowed important bilateral talks on economic policies, taxation, and exchange rates, particularly with China.
As South Africa assumes a leadership role in the G20, the absence of the U.S. Treasury Secretary at such a pivotal moment raises questions about the future of U.S.-Africa economic relations and Washington’s commitment to multilateral financial cooperation.