U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Wednesday he will skip next week's meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors from the Group of 20 major economies in Cape Town, South Africa.

The Treasury secretary is the second top U.S. official not to attend the Group of 20 gatherings because of rising tension with South Africa over its land policies.

Amid diplomatic tensions between host South Africa and the Trump Administration, the U.S. will be represented at a meeting of foreign ministers by the acting ambassador to South Africa.