Ramaphosa confirms invite to Trump for state visit during G20 Summit

President Cyril Ramaphosa says he has invited the US President-elect Donald Trump on a state visit during the G20 Summit.

Ramaphosa officially launched the country’s Presidency of the grouping during a media briefing at Parliament.

South Africa takes over the year-long rotational Presidency from Brazil and will hand it over to the USA.

Trump has recently posted on social platform X, formerly Twitter, that countries belonging to the BRICS formation should give a commitment that the bloc won’t establish their own currency in opposition to the US dollar.

He also repeated threats for a 100% tariff levy.

While not commenting on this, Ramaphosa says he would engage Trump on all kinds of matters, possibly over a round of golf.

“If he has time … he has very busy schedule … and when he can go hit some balls, point him in right direction … might find a lot of competition among golf course where President Trump and maybe myself can go and play golf and talk about global matters,” says Ramaphosa.

Ramaphosa has added that he is not concerned about South Africa’s developmental approach to promote the continent and countries in the global south during its G20 Presidency being eroded by the US’s G20 Presidency.

“What we have found is that there has always been forward movement, as G20 had to deal with existential issues affecting all parts of the world. So, I am least concerned that  G20 will be seen and don’t think what has been decided here, will be diluted,” says Ramaphosa.

Meanwhile, the International Relations Department says it’s willing to engage with the administration of US President-elect Donald Trump if given an opportunity.

Regarding the BRICS comment, the department says it has noted Trump’s social media post.

Department spokesperson Chrispin Phiri, says, “There is this misconception and it’s not quite clear where it comes from that there’s something called a BRICS currency or there’s work being done towards a BRICS currency and nothing could be further from the truth. If you look at the BRICS’ declaration, you will not find the word BRICS currency or even de-dollarization, as some people have framed the discussion. It’s actually a discussion that says as BRICS’ nations, we should be able to trade with each other in our own local currency. It’s the country’s sovereign right to ensure that it trades with its own currency and I think that’s something that we will stand by and that’s something we’ll continually pursue.”

Trump sends strong message to BRICS nations: