The G20 summit in Johannesburg will take place under a major cloud—the boycott by US President Donald Trump and his team. With the US absent, attention shifts to developing nations, and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to take center stage. Officials say South Africa’s agenda closely reflects the priorities India pushed during its G20 presidency, keeping the focus on Global South issues.
What is the Main Focus of the South Africa G20 Summit?
With the US absent, what will leaders be discussing? According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, the Johannesburg summit will heavily focus on the developmental priorities of the Global South. Senior official Sudhakar Dalela stated that South Africa’s identified priorities are “aligned with those of India’s G20 Presidency.” This ensures a continuous thread of discussion on matters vital to developing nations. The main focus areas are disaster risk reduction, food security, and strengthening economic resilience—topics India strongly highlighted during its own G20 leadership.
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How is India’s G20 Legacy Being Carried Forward?
What specific Indian initiatives are being continued? The work begun under India’s presidency is finding strong resonance in South Africa. Dalela noted that key priorities from the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration are still being pursued. These include strengthening Digital Public Infrastructure, supporting Women-Led Development, and carrying out the SDG action plan. South Africa has also continued the task forces India started, like those on disaster risk reduction, securing their position in the G20 agenda.
Why is PM Modi’s Presence So Crucial at This Summit?
What strategic role does India play at this gathering? Prime Minister Modi’s presence is crucial for continuing India’s foreign policy push and its G20 progress. This trip—his fourth to South Africa—includes a special IBSA meeting and several bilateral talks. His visit highlights India’s growing leadership in the Global South. Furthermore, this summit marks the first G20 on African soil and the first since the African Union’s permanent membership, a landmark achievement that occurred under India’s presidency in 2023.
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What is the Larger Significance of This Event?
Why is the Johannesburg Summit a historic moment? This event represents the culmination of the first cycle of G20 presidencies. Holding the summit in South Africa puts Africa’s development issues—and the Global South’s priorities—front and center. Countries such as Indonesia, India, Brazil, and South Africa are leading the conversation. Without the US delegation, the summit is expected to showcase the growing power and shared agenda of the developing world in global policy-making.
