World leaders gathered in Johannesburg as South African President Cyril Ramaphosa opened the G20 Leaders’ Summit, making it clear that the country wants to ensure the integrity and stature of the group. He reportedly told Reuters that South Africa would make sure the priorities of the Global South and Africa come out during the discussions at the summit. The three-day summit started on November 21, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi arriving a day earlier and holding important talks with global leaders including Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
PM Modi posted on X showing Yesterday’s proceedings at the G20 Summit in Johannesburg that were fruitful. He had taken part in two sessions and had shared his views on key issues. Also he had productive meetings with many world leaders.
Watch the highlights:
Yesterday’s proceedings at the G20 Summit in Johannesburg were fruitful. I took part in two sessions and shared my views on key issues. Also had productive meetings with many world leaders. Watch the highlights… pic.twitter.com/l8EsjxsyRO
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 23, 2025
PM Modi expressed his expectations in a post on X, saying he was “looking forward to productive discussions with world leaders on key global issues.”
PM Modi Presents Six Major Proposals
Prime Minister Modi presented India’s vision for six major initiatives that the G20 should lead. His first proposal was to take a united approach “to overcome the challenge of drug trafficking,” stating, “India proposes a G20 Initiative on Countering the Drug-Terror Nexus.”
He also proposed a G20 Global Healthcare Response Team comprising trained medical professionals who can be deployed in the member countries. Supporting the development of Africa, Modi suggested the G20 Africa-Skills Multiplier Initiative to help transform the continent’s workforce.
Another was to develop a Global Traditional Knowledge Repository, followed by a G20 Open Satellite Data Partnership. The creation of a G20 Critical Minerals Circularity Initiative to improve responsible use of minerals was the sixth initiative.
Summit Issues Declaration Amid US Boycott
Despite US objections and a boycott, the G20 adopted a declaration covering all the main issues that were up for discussion, from climate change to global development. The White House said that Ramaphosa was “refusing to facilitate a smooth transition of the G20 presidency,” and also accused the South African government of “weaponizing their G20 presidency to undermine the G20’s founding principles,” according to spokesperson Anna Kelly, as reported by Reuters.
Donald Trump had ordered American officials to boycott the summit and had accused the South African government of unfair treatment of the White minority. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also skipped a G20 foreign ministers’ meeting, saying the agenda put too much emphasis on diversity, equity, inclusion, and climate change and that he would not “waste” taxpayer money.
G20 Prioritizes Critical Minerals Development
One of the main focuses of the declaration was the establishment of a G20 Critical Minerals Framework that will use high-demand minerals as tools for sustainable and inclusive growth. This framework emphasized enabling mineral-producing countries, especially in the Global South, to receive greater benefit from their natural resources.
The declaration observed that the global demand for critical minerals was increasing impelled by sustainable transitions, digital transformation, and industrial innovation. However, it added that many mineral-rich countries were still confronted with challenges relating to “under investment, limited value addition and beneficiation, lack of technologies as well as socio-economic and environmental issues.”
Call to Boost Global Climate Financing
The declaration, while emphasizing that climate finance needs to increase “from billions to trillions globally,” focused attention on unequal access to reasonably priced energy, particularly in Africa, with calls to boost investments in sustainable energy solutions.
The summit statement also referenced worsening climate-related disasters and committed the member countries to improving early warning systems for vulnerable populations.
Ongoing Conflict in Ukraine Stays in Focus
Although Ukraine got only a passing mention in the official 30-page declaration, Western leaders kept the conflict at the center of their private discussions. The declaration called for a “just, comprehensive and lasting peace” in areas of major conflict, including Ukraine, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the “Occupied Palestinian Territory.” Following the leak of details from US President Donald Trump’s 28-point peace proposal, European leaders issued a joint response to say that “the draft is a basis which will require additional work,” Bloomberg reported. They added that they would continue coordinating with Ukraine and the United States in the coming days to shape a unified position.
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