Prime Minister Narendra Modi is travelling to South Africa for the G20 Summit. The meeting is taking place in Johannesburg from November 21 to 23. This year’s theme is ‘Inclusive Growth for a Sustainable Future.’ The Ministry of External Affairs said Modi will speak in all three main sessions. He will outline India’s stand on the issues before the G20.
What to Expect at the Summit
PM Modi will focus on inclusive growth, sustainability, and global security. He will also highlight the dangers of climate change and rising disaster risks. Another priority will be emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence and critical minerals. The summit holds significance because the world is dealing with economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and growing extremism.
PM Modi will address three sessions. The first session will focus on trade, development financing, and debt-related concerns. The second session will cover disaster risks, climate action, clean energy transitions, and food systems. The final session will discuss critical minerals, decent work, and the governance of artificial intelligence.
Officials expect Modi to call for fair market access. He may also push for reforms that give the Global South a stronger voice in global economic decisions. He is likely to urge all countries to take a firm stance against terrorism. New Delhi has repeatedly demanded that nations act against states that support or finance terror groups.
PM Modi will stress that “terrorism, extremism and radicalisation” threaten every region, not just one country. India may press to include strict counterterrorism steps in the final G20 declaration. These steps could involve tracking the finances behind terror networks.
Modi’s Other Engagements
PM Modi will meet several world leaders in Johannesburg. He will also attend the India-Brazil-South Africa Leaders’ Meeting. South Africa is hosting this engagement. The IBSA Dialogue Forum began in 2003. It brings together three major democracies and emerging economies from Asia, Africa and South America. The group works on cooperation in trade, development, defence, and governance. It also takes joint positions on global issues and supports UN reforms. IBSA funds development projects in poorer countries through a UN-run fund.
India’s Rising Influence in the G20
This summit marks the fourth G20 gathering in a row hosted in the Global South. Indonesia held the summit in 2022 and passed the presidency to India in 2023. India hosted a major G20 Summit in New Delhi in September 2023 and then handed leadership to Brazil. Brazil led the G20 from December 2023 to November 2024. South Africa took over the presidency on December 1, 2024.
US President Donald Trump will skip the summit. Earlier this month, he said, “I am not going. We have a G20 meeting in South Africa. South Africa shouldn’t even be in the Gs any more because what’s happened there is bad. I told them I’m not going. I’m not going to represent our country there. It shouldn’t be there.”
A US president missing such a major global forum is unusual. The decision comes as India and the United States continue negotiating a trade deal. Some US officials are unhappy that India refuses to compromise on issues related to dairy and agriculture. India has said it will not compromise its sovereignty. Modi told supporters during an election rally that he was ready to “pay any price” to protect Indian farmers.
About the G20
The G20 includes 19 countries, the European Union and the African Union. These members represent the world’s largest advanced and emerging economies. Together they account for around 85 percent of global GDP, 75 percent of world trade and two-thirds of the world’s population. The African Union joined the group during India’s presidency, which marked a major step in making the G20 more inclusive.