France has denied that the United States influenced its decision not to invite South Africa to this year’s G7 summit, after Pretoria said it was told Washington had threatened to boycott the meeting.

France denied that the US influenced its decision to exclude South Africa from the June G7 summit.South Africa said it was told Washington threatened a boycott, but Paris insisted Kenya was chosen after consultations.The row highlights worsening US–South Africa relations and shifting African representation.Meanwhile, the Iran conflict risks overshadowing the summit’s economic agenda.

Instead, French officials said Kenya was selected as the African representative following consultations among G7 members, ahead of President Emmanuel Macron’s planned visit to Nairobi in May.

The summit, set for June in Evian-les-Bains, will include leaders from India, Brazil and South Korea as guest countries alongside G7 members. South Africa, a frequent invitee in recent years, was left out.

South Africa’s presidency said the French embassy had communicated that the US objected to its participation.

“We’ve accepted the French decision and appreciate the pressure they’ve been subjected to,” spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said.

Paris rejected that account, insisting the choice was not made at Washington’s request. A White House official also said the invitation to Kenya followed internal discussions within the G7, without directly addressing South Africa’s exclusion.

The dispute shows worsening ties between the US and South Africa.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised Pretoria’s foreign policy and domestic laws, and previously skipped a G20 summit in Johannesburg while excluding the country from some G20 engagements this year.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa [Photo by Rodger Bosch / POOL / AFP via Getty Images]

France had initially planned to use the G7 summit to focus on longer-term economic risks, including the threat of a global financial crisis.

Officials had hoped to push China to boost domestic demand, while urging the US to reduce deficits and Europe to increase production.

But those priorities are now likely to be overtaken by the escalating conflict involving Iran, which has raised concerns about global energy supply and economic stability.

“We don’t know where the Iran crisis will be by June,” a French presidential adviser said, adding that its fallout would shape discussions regardless of how events unfold.

The crisis has also exposed divisions within the G7. While members remain close US allies, they have not fully aligned with Washington’s stance, instead calling for restraint. In a sign of these differences, leaders are not expected to issue a joint communique at the end of the summit.

China, which is not a G7 member and has criticised the group as a “club of rich countries”, will not attend. French officials said engagement with Beijing would continue outside the summit.

Kenya’s inclusion points to a shift in how African countries are represented at global forums, as geopolitical competition increasingly shapes diplomatic choices.