US – SA tensions could force G20 leaders to pick different country as 2026 chair, says analyst

By Johnathan Paoli

The escalating diplomatic standoff between Pretoria and Washington has thrown the G20 Leaders’ Summit into uncharted territory.

Governance and development specialist Lukhona Mnguni has warned that the United States’ unprecedented absence amounts to a direct challenge to global multilateral norms and could force world leaders to consider appointing a different country as the 2026 G20 chair.

Speaking to Inside Politics, Mnguni was unequivocal about the impossibility of a legitimate handover under current circumstances.

With US President Donald Trump refusing to send any senior official and Washington pushing for only its charge d’affaires to receive the gavel, Mnguni said diplomatic protocol simply did not allow it.

“The South African government has already said the president will not hand over the chair to a charge d’affaires. That’s already dead in the water,” said Mnguni. 

“A chargé d’affaires is not an official public representative sent on behalf of that country’s