France denies U.S. influence as South Africa questions exclusion
A diplomatic dispute is unfolding ahead of the G7 summit in France, following claims that Washington pressured Paris to exclude Cyril Ramaphosa from the high-level gathering.
The South Africa presidency alleged U.S. interference in the decision-making process. However, Jean-Noël Barrot firmly denied the accusations, stating that France independently determined the guest list for the summit in Evian.
French authorities confirmed that Kenya—not South Africa—was invited to participate, aligning with Paris’s strategy to host a streamlined G7 focused on geo-economic priorities.
While Barrot declined to clarify whether South Africa had initially been considered, he stressed that France “did not give in to any pressure,” highlighting the country’s diplomatic autonomy.
Despite the tensions, France reaffirmed its strong partnership with South Africa, emphasizing ongoing cooperation on major global issues and maintaining close bilateral ties.
Source: Newstimehub
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