South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stated on Thursday that no country can be allowed to bully another, delivering a jab at the United States which is boycotting the G20 summit of leading economies taking place in the country this weekend.

Washington has also demanded that South Africa does not issue the traditional joint leaders’ statement after the meeting, where around 40 countries will be present.

Addressing delegates at a curtain-raiser event, Ramaphosa made a clear reference to Washington, stating, “It cannot be that a country’s geographical location or income or army determines who has a voice and who is spoken down to.”

Speaking to a gathering of civil society groups ahead of the November 22-23 summit in Johannesburg, the President elaborated, “It basically means there should be no bullying of one nation by another.”

Relations between South Africa and the United States have plummeted this year over a number of foreign and domestic differences.

The US embassy confirmed it would not attend the summit in a note to South Africa, saying Pretoria’s G20 priorities “run counter to the US policy views and we cannot support consensus on any documents negotiated under your presidency.”

South Africa replied that the United States’ absence from the event negated its role.

Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said Pretoria would press ahead with a leaders’ declaration.

Speaking in an address after Ramaphosa, Lamola said, “We will not be told by anyone who is absent that we cannot adopt a declaration or make any decisions at the summit.”

He added, “If we do not end up with a declaration, it will not be on the basis that someone who is absent told us.”

South Africa chose “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability” as the theme of its presidency of the G20, which comprises 19 countries and two regional bodies, the European Union and the African Union.

Its members account for 85 percent of global GDP and around two-thirds of the world’s population.

Its agenda focuses on strengthening disaster resilience, improving debt sustainability for low-income countries, financing a “just energy transition”, and harnessing “critical minerals for inclusive growth and sustainable development”.

This is the first G20 summit to be held in Africa.