PM Narendra Modi is on his way to South Africa for the G20 Summit that begins today (November 21) in Johannesburg. The summit will run till November 23. This year’s theme is ‘Inclusive Growth for a Sustainable Future.’ The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said PM Modi will speak in all three formal sessions and present India’s views on the G20 agenda.
What to Expect from PM Modi’s Interventions?
PM Modi is set to highlight several major issues. He will speak on inclusive growth, sustainable development, and global security challenges linked to climate change and disaster risks. He will also address the growing importance of emerging technologies, especially the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and the need for secure access to critical minerals.
The global backdrop adds urgency to this summit. Many countries face instability, economic pressures, and rising extremism. This makes the Johannesburg meeting an important platform for cooperative action.
Sessions Modi Will Address
Modi will participate in three main sessions:
1. Inclusive & Sustainable Economic Growth
This session will cover global trade, development financing, and debt challenges.
2. A Resilient World
The focus will be on climate change, disaster risk reduction, just energy transitions, and food security.
3. A Fair & Just Future for All
Here, leaders will discuss AI governance, decent work, and the importance of critical minerals.
PM Modi is expected to call for fair market access and reforms that give the Global South a stronger voice in global economic decisions. He is also likely to push for firm counterterrorism measures in the G20 joint declaration. India has long asked the G20 to take action against nations that support or finance terror groups.
PM Modi will repeat that terrorism, extremism, and radicalisation are global issues, not regional ones. India will also seek the inclusion of stronger financial tracking tools to curb terror funding.
PM Modi Bilateral Meetings & IBSA Engagement
PM Modi will hold several bilateral meetings with world leaders on the sidelines of the summit. He will also attend the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Leaders’ Meeting. The IBSA Dialogue Forum, founded in 2003, connects three major democracies and emerging economies from Asia, South America, and Africa.
It promotes cooperation in trade, defence, and development and supports UN reforms, including the expansion of the Security Council.
India’s Rising Influence in the G20
This is the fourth consecutive G20 Summit hosted in the Global South. The trend began in Bali in 2022 and continued when India held the presidency in 2023. India organised a widely praised summit in September 2023 before handing leadership to Brazil. Brazil held the presidency from December 2023 to November 2024, after which South Africa took charge on December 1, 2024.
One unusual development this year is the absence of US President Donald Trump. He said, “I am not going. We have a G20 meeting in South Africa… It shouldn’t be there.” His absence is rare for an American president and comes during ongoing India–US trade negotiations.
India’s Push for Global Governance Reform Gains Momentum
Diplomats say India plans to use this summit to deepen its campaign for global governance reforms. With Africa’s Union joining the G20 under India’s presidency and the Global South hosting back-to-back summits, India sees a chance to push for restructuring global bodies, expanding representation, and reducing the dominance of older economic blocs. Officials view the Johannesburg summit as the next step in shaping a more balanced global order.
