South Africa excluded from G7 summit due to boycott threats from US

South Africa announced Thursday it has been excluded from the G7 summit scheduled for June in France, initially attributing the decision to U.S. pressure on Paris before later walking back those claims and emphasizing diplomatic dialogue. The exclusion marks a significant diplomatic rift between Pretoria and Western powers at a time of broader geopolitical tensions. South Africa's initial blame of Washington suggested the U.S. threatened to boycott the summit if the country participated, though the government subsequently softened its rhetoric. The incident underscores strained relations between South Africa and the West, particularly over issues like sanctions and international alignments. The reversal in South Africa's public messaging indicates active diplomatic efforts to smooth tensions despite the exclusion itself.