South Africa Asks China to Postpone Naval Exercises That Coincide With Possible Trump Trip for G20

A general view of a Chinese military vessel docked at the port in Richards Bay on Feb. 22, 2023, as South Africa embarked on a 10-day joint military exercise with Russia and China.Guillem Sartorio/AFP via Getty Images

CAPE TOWN, South Africa—South Africa’s Department of Defense said Thursday it has asked China to postpone naval exercises that would have brought Chinese and Russian warships to South African waters around the time the country hosts a Group of 20 (G20) summit.

U.S. President Donald Trump has been invited to attend the summit in Johannesburg on Nov. 22 and Nov. 23, although it’s unclear if he will attend following his criticism of South Africa as a country he has “a lot of problems with.”