JOHANNESBURG (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will skip a two-day meeting of foreign ministers from the leading rich and developing nations that starts on Thursday after criticizing host South Africa’s policies as anti-American.

Ties between the United States and South Africa have deteriorated since Trump cut U.S. financial aid to the country.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio called South Africa’s U.S. ambassador, Ebrahim Rasool, “a race-baiting politician who hates America” and declared him persona non grata.