Prime Minister Narendra Modi Attends G20 Leaders’ Summit in South Africa

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Johannesburg to participate in the G20 Leaders’ Summit. Upon his arrival, he received a ceremonial welcome. PM Modi is scheduled to attend the summit from November 21 to 23, which is a significant moment as it is the first time the G20 summit is being held in Africa. During the summit, he will address important topics related to India and the global south.

This visit marks PM Modi’s fourth official trip to South Africa, following his previous visits in 2016 and his attendance at the two BRICS summits in 2018 and 2023. The G20 meeting in South Africa follows consecutive G20 meetings held by countries from the Global South, including Indonesia, India, and Brazil in recent years. Before South Africa, the G20 presidencies were held by Brazil (2024), India (2023), and Indonesia (2022).

The Secretary (ER) of the Ministry of External Affairs, Sudhakar Dalela, highlighted the importance of the G20 as a forum where countries come together to address key issues affecting the Global South. He mentioned that past sessions have seen agreements on consensus declarations, pilots, and new initiatives impacting various themes of interest to the region.

The G20 includes major economies that represent a significant portion of global GDP and international trade. Under South Africa’s presidency theme of ‘Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,’ priority areas have been identified. Secretary Dalela mentioned that bilateral meetings will also take place on the sidelines of the G20 summit, with efforts being made to organize them effectively.

India and South Africa, both democratic nations, have a strong foundation of cooperation built on three pillars, one of which is political cooperation. The African Union, a permanent member of the G20 since India’s presidency in 2023, will have a key role in shaping the agenda for the summit. The discussions during the summit will focus on highlighting issues significant to the Global South and ensuring they are at the forefront of the dialogue.