The United States has invited Poland to attend next year’s G20 summit in Miami, saying that the country has earned a place there after joining the world’s 20 largest economies. Meanwhile, South Africa, with which Washington currently has tense relations, will not be invited despite being a G20 member.
Poland has recently been pushing for acceptance into the G20, especially after its economy surpassed $1 trillion this year to become the 20th largest in the world, overtaking Switzerland and chasing down Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands.
In a statement on Wednesday, titled “America Welcomes a New G20”, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Poland would be invited to participate in next year’s summit. That does not mean formal membership of the group; non-member countries are regularly invited to attend summits.
“Poland, a nation that was once trapped behind the Iron Curtain but now ranks among the world’s 20 largest economies, will be joining us to assume its rightful place in the G20,” wrote Rubio.
“Poland’s success is proof that a focus on the future is a better path than one on grievances,” he added. “It shows how partnership with the United States and American companies can promote mutual prosperity and growth.”