A diplomatic rift has emerged ahead of the G7 summit in France, amid allegations that Washington sought to block Cyril Ramaphosa from attending the high-level meeting.
The South Africa presidency pointed to possible U.S. interference, but Jean-Noël Barrot dismissed the claims, asserting that France made an independent decision regarding the summit’s guest list in Evian.
French officials confirmed that Kenya was selected instead, reflecting Paris’s intention to organize a more focused G7 centered on geo-economic priorities.
Although Barrot did not confirm whether South Africa had been initially considered, he emphasized that France “did not give in to any pressure,” reinforcing its diplomatic sovereignty.
Despite the controversy, France reiterated its strong relationship with South Africa, highlighting continued cooperation on key international issues and maintaining open channels of dialogue.
Source: Newstimehub
