The United States has announced major changes to the structure and membership of the G20 ahead of its 2026 presidency. Officials said the new G20 will focus on American economic priorities, and notably, South Africa will not be invited to participate.

The announcement signals Washington’s intention to reshape the forum’s agenda under President Donald Trump, describing the 2026 summit in Miami as an opportunity to show “the values of innovation, entrepreneurship, and perseverance that made America great.”

Why a ‘New G20’

In a blog post titled ‘America Welcomes a New G20’, Senator Marco Rubio said the summit would showcase “the values that, in its view, underpin American prosperity.”

“The United States is forging ahead with a new G20. South Africa operated with spite, division, and radical agendas that failed to produce economic growth. America's G20 will propel us forward with innovation, entrepreneurship, and perseverance that make America great and provide a roadmap of prosperity to the world. We're ready to lead the way in Miami,” Rubio wrote.

The summit will also coincide with the United States’ 250th anniversary.

What 2026 G20 will focus on

Officials said the restructured G20 will operate through four working groups under three main themes:

  • Removing regulatory burdens

  • Unlocking affordable and secure energy supply chains

  • Pioneering new technologies and innovation

The first Sherpa and Finance Track meetings are scheduled in Washington, DC, on December 15-16, with further meetings planned throughout 2026.

As the global economy adjusts to technologies like Artificial Intelligence, officials said the United States is “prepared to lead the way.”

Who will be invited

The administration said it would include “the world’s largest economies, as well as burgeoning partners and allies,” highlighting Poland as a rising economy and example of forward-looking policies.

However, the message in South Africa was clear:

“For these reasons, President Trump and the United States will not be extending an invitation to the South African government to participate in the G20 during our presidency. There is a place for good faith disagreement, but not dishonesty or sabotage.”

Rubio sharply criticized South Africa’s 2025 G20 presidency:

“The politics of grievance carried over to South Africa’s Presidency of the G20 this month, which was an exercise in spite, division, and radical agendas that have nothing to do with economic growth.”

He accused the African National Congress (ANC) of prioritizing climate change, diversity, inclusion, and aid dependency while blocking American input in negotiations and ignoring reasonable efforts to engage. The blog post added that these actions “fundamentally tarnished the G20’s reputation.”

The US contrasted South Africa’s current policies with its early post-apartheid trajectory under Nelson Mandela, saying subsequent governments replaced reconciliation with “redistributionist policies that discouraged investment and drove South Africa’s most talented citizens abroad.”

Officials also cited South Africa’s relations with Iran and “entertainment of Hamas sympathizers,” claiming the country had “cozied up to America’s greatest adversaries.”

The US clarified that its issue is with the South African government, not the people:

“The United States supports the people of South Africa, but not its radical ANC-led government, and will not tolerate its continued behavior.”

A return to the G20 is possible, the statement added, if South Africa reforms its system and is ready to rejoin “the family of prosperous and free nations.”

Until then, the US says it will “forge ahead with a new G20.”