Ramaphosa in balancing act amid US criticism

DESPITE the US's bullying stance, South Africa could not afford to be confrontational and retaliate the same way.

- WILLEM PHUNGULA

Reflecting on the recent G20 Summit in his address on Sunday evening, President Cyril Ramaphosa hailed South Africa's hosting of the event as a historic and great success.

Although the president avoided a direct attack on the US's boycott of the event, he expressed his disappointment that the event continued without the US's presence.

He said it was regrettable that the United States, which is a founding member of the G20 and which takes over the presidency of the G20 from South Africa next year, chose not to participate in the G20 Leaders’ Summit and the final meetings leading up to it.

Weighing in on the president's diplomatic response to the US, political analyst Professor Ntsikelelo Breakfast said South Africa's diplomatic approach is understandable given that the US is currently the world’s economic superpower.