US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to Skip G20 Meeting Amid Domestic Focus
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will not attend the Group of 20 (G20) finance ministers meeting in South Africa next week, prioritizing domestic matters in his initial weeks in office, a source familiar with the situation disclosed.
This decision follows Secretary of State Marco Rubio's recent absence from the G20 foreign ministers gathering, citing concerns over South Africa's land and equality policies. A local US diplomat was delegated to represent the US at that event.
Bessent's absence, driven by different reasons, may be interpreted as further distancing by the Trump administration from multilateral forums. In contrast, previous Treasury chiefs, such as Paul O'Neill, attended international meetings early in their terms. Janet Yellen, Bessent's predecessor, participated virtually in G7 and G20 events in February 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bessent, in office for less than a month, is a key figure in President Trump's legislative initiatives, particularly the upcoming tax cut package. His non-attendance does not constitute a boycott of the G20, and he maintains regular contact with counterparts in member nations, the source asserted. Bessent will send a senior official in his place.
The G20, established in the wake of the Asian financial crisis, has served as a platform for global economic cooperation. While its cohesion has diminished recently due to disagreements over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it remains a forum for leaders of major economies.
Relations between the US and South Africa, the current G20 chair, have deteriorated since Trump criticized Pretoria's land expropriation laws and imposed aid cuts. Bessent will have another opportunity to meet with counterparts in April at the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Washington.