U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will not attend an upcoming G20 meeting in South Africa, the top U.S. diplomat said on Wednesday, days after President Donald Trump threatened to cut off funding to the African country.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Wednesday evening he was boycotting the G20 meeting in South Africa scheduled for later this month over the country's controversial land expropriation law.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will not go to the meeting of foreign ministers of the G20 countries, which will be held on February 20-21 in Johannesburg.

The G20 is a forum for international economic cooperation that was established in 1999.

The boycott is a blow to Canada’s hopes of bolstering links between the G20 and G7 groups during Canada’s presidency of the G7 this year. Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly was in South Africa last August to discuss how to expand those connections.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced he will skip the G20 summit slated to be held in Johannesburg amid tensions between President Trump, tech billionaire Elon Musk and the host country South

South Africa is hosting a meeting of foreign ministers of the G20 group of countries from Feb. 20-21 in Johannesburg. The country holds the G20 presidency until November. Trump said on Sunday, without citing evidence, that South Africa is confiscating land and certain classes of people were being treated very badly.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to skip G20 summit in South Africa, citing land expropriation and inequality policies.

Podcast host Wade Stotts explains the geopolitical reality in South Africa and shares his take on Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s exchange with Hillary Clinton on ‘The Will Cain Show.’

U.S. and South Africa in Diplomatic Standoff A major diplomatic rift has emerged between the United States and South Africa after President Donald Trump threatened to cut funding to the African nation.