PM Modi prepares to join world leaders at the Johannesburg G20 Summit hosted by South Africa (Photo: ANI)
The visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Johannesburg to attend the 20th G20 Leaders Summit heralds the continuity of India's role as a strong voice for the Global South. South Africa, which will host from November 21 to 23, brings the forum back to a region increasingly shaping the direction of global governance.
This year's gathering follows a sequence of G20 meetings held in the developing world, reflecting a shift toward a more representative international order.
At the Summit, PM Modi will articulate India's stance across the core pillars of the G20 agenda. He is expected to address all three main sessions that will look at inclusive growth, resilient development structures and a fairer global future.
His interventions will bring into focus the need for sustainable financing, balanced trade practices and targeted efforts to reduce debt vulnerabilities that threaten emerging economies.
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The first session emphasizes inclusive economic expansion, especially for countries confronted with trade barriers and gaps in development financing.
The second session focuses on resilience, where the debate is focused on climate pressures, preparedness for disasters, food systems and energy transitions.
The final session will discuss the future of work, the role of critical minerals and the urgent need to establish responsible guardrails for artificial intelligence.
Along with the G20 deliberations, PM Modi will have bilateral meetings with various global leaders. He will also participate in the IBSA Leaders Meeting along with his Brazilian and South African counterparts, emphasizing the strategic importance of South cooperation. India sees the Summit as an opportunity to further common interests of the developing world.
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This year's Summit unfolds under the shadow of a political dispute in Washington. Former US President Donald Trump announced that no American officials would attend, criticising South Africa's domestic policies.
Current US Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed the refusal. South Africa's High Commissioner to India, Anil Sooklal, described the boycott as disappointing, but insisted the G20 has grown too influential to depend on any single nation.
The G20 is still the most powerful gathering of economic leaders in the world, representing about 85 percent of global GDP and more than two-thirds of the world’s population. With South Africa hosting this year’s meeting, the focus will be on whether this group can continue to give firm leadership amid increasing geopolitical fractures.
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational and editorial purposes only and should not be taken as official policy guidance or diplomatic assessment.
