Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: For the first time, Prime Minister Netanyahu is signaling that he wants to end the war on Gaza
Israeli Channel 12, citing an American source: We want to have entered a path toward captive release and a ceasefire before Netanyahu arrives in Washington
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One martyr and two injured in the Israeli airstrike that targeted a motorcycle in the town of Mahrouna
Al Mayadeen correspondent to Southern Lebanon: An Israeli drone strike targeted a vehicle between the towns of Jwayya and Mahrouna.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: One martyred in the Israeli drone strike on a car in the town of Kawnin
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone targets a car in the town of Kawnin
Naeini: If our national interests are attacked again, our response this time will be stronger and more destructive
Naeini: The war has proven that the settlers are defenseless against Iranian missile and drone forces
Naeini: Trump lacks an understanding of the true strength of the Iranian people and is so deluded as to believe he can change the reality of Iran's victory
Naeini: The defeat led to Trump's confusion and loss of balance, which was reflected in his ill-considered statements

US Treasury's Bessent to skip G20 meeting in South Africa

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 20 Feb 2025
4 Min Read

A source told Reuters that the G20 member countries had been advised of Bessent's intention not to attend.

Listen
  • x
  • US Treasury's Bessent to skip G20 meeting in South Africa
    Scott Bessent appears before the Senate Finance Committee for his confirmation hearing at the Capitol, in Washington, on January 16, 2025. (AP)

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will not attend next week's meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors from the Group of 20 countries in Cape Town, South Africa, according to individuals familiar with his intentions.

Missing the regular gathering of finance chiefs from the world's top nations is rare for a US Treasury secretary, given that the US frequently leads G20 accords on financial and monetary policy issues.

One of the individuals told Reuters that G20 member countries had been informed of Bessent's intention not to attend. A spokesperson for the US Treasury did not respond to a request for comment on his plans. 

The G20 finance group has addressed a wide variety of global economic concerns, including combatting inflation and climate change, as well as financial crises and trade tensions. South Africa holds the G20 chairmanship from December 2024 to November 2025.

Tensions between the United States and South Africa have increased in recent weeks, after concerns from US President Donald Trump about South Africa's land policy and its legal case against "Israel" at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). 

Trump accused South Africa of land theft and treating certain people "very badly" earlier this month and signed an executive order halting financial assistance to the country.

Related News

DOGE loses control over federal grant applications review: WashPo

IRGC slams Trump's 'nonsense' statements following war on Iran

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio subsequently canceled a trip to Johannesburg for a meeting of G20 foreign ministers on Thursday and Friday.

According to US government data, South Africa received nearly $440 million in financial assistance from Washington in 2023. The newly signed executive order cuts this funding, with the White House pointing to South Africa's land redistribution efforts and its ICJ case against "Israel" over the Gaza genocide as primary reasons for the move.

The White House also revealed plans to create a pathway for the resettlement of white South African farmers, known as Afrikaners, in the US through the country's refugee admissions program. A statement from US officials emphasized a focus on humanitarian relief for Afrikaners, describing them as "mostly white descendants of early Dutch and French settlers."

South Africa responds

South Africa's foreign ministry strongly criticized the executive order, calling it factually incorrect and dismissive of the country's history. "It lacks factual accuracy and fails to recognize South Africa's profound and painful history of colonialism and apartheid," a ministry statement said.

Government officials also condemned the refugee provision, stating, "It is ironic that the executive order makes provision for refugee status in the US for a group in South Africa that remains amongst the most economically privileged, while vulnerable people in the US from other parts of the world are being deported and denied asylum despite real hardship."

Land ownership remains a contentious issue in South Africa. Under colonial rule and apartheid, most farmland was allocated to white landowners. The 1950 law passed by the Afrikaner-led National Party further entrenched this system, with 85% of the land designated for white ownership, displacing millions of Black South Africans.

In 2023, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a law aimed at facilitating state-led land expropriation in the public interest. He defended the policy, stating that the government had not confiscated any land but was working to address racial imbalances in land ownership. "We will not be bullied," Ramaphosa asserted.

The White House, however, cited the land reform policy as an example of South Africa treating "certain classes of people very badly." Trump has made similar claims before but has not provided evidence to support them. Elon Musk, the South African-born billionaire and a Trump ally, has also spoken out on the issue, saying that "white South Africans have been the victims of racist ownership laws."

  • Scott Bessent
  • United States
  • US Treasury
  • US Treasury Department
  • South Africa

Most Read

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Iran declares victory as ceasefire forces Israeli retreat

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Iran launches strikes on Israeli targets, despite alleged ceasefire

Iran victorious as ceasefire with 'Israel' takes effect

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iranian worshippers carry their country's flags in a protest to condemn Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, after the Friday prayers ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP)

Iran warns of NPT withdrawal, Strait of Hormuz closure after US attack

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli occupation soldiers search for settlers amid the rubble of buildings destroyed by an Iranian missile strike in Bat Yam, central occupied Palestine, on Sunday, June 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran missile strike flattens Bat Yam, displaces 2,000 settlers

Palestinian fighters from the Islamic Jihad militant group riding on a truck with weaponry on display take part in an anti-Israel parade marking the 36th anniversary of the movement's founding, in Gaza City, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023 (AP)
Politics

Palestinian Resistance attacks Israeli forces in Khan Younis, Jabalia

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stands waiting to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for the talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, June 23, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran suspends IAEA cooperation, Araghchi blames Grossi for attacks

The commander of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit, Brigadier General Mohammad Said Izadi (Illustrated by Mahdi Rtail for Al Mayadeen English)
Politics

Who was Mohammad Said Izadi, head of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit?

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS