U.S. Treasury Secretary to Miss G20 Finance Meeting in South Africa

July 8, 2025 - 18:58

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will not attend the upcoming Group of 20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting scheduled for next week in South Africa. This decision marks the second occasion this year that Bessent has chosen to forgo participation in a G20 gathering in the host nation. According to sources familiar with the situation, an official from the Treasury confirmed that Michael Kaplan, the acting undersecretary for international affairs, will step in to represent the department at the meeting set for July 17-18 in Durban.

Bessent's absence from this meeting follows his decision to skip South Africa's initial G20 finance meeting earlier this year in February, prioritizing attendance at President Donald Trump's first cabinet meeting in Washington instead. The choice to delegate representation at such a significant international forum raises questions about the U.S. commitment to engaging with global economic discussions during a critical time.