G20 Summit held on African soil has signalled a decisive transformation in global governance, marking a move toward a more polycentric world order in which developing nations increasingly shape international norms and priorities. India’s leadership—rooted in civilizational ethos, inclusive diplomacy, and Africa-centred initiatives—emerged as a defining force in this historic moment.
Hosted in Johannesburg from 22–23 November 2025 under South Africa’s presidency, the summit convened at a sensitive geopolitical juncture, reflecting the shifting balance of global power. Established in 1999 to coordinate economic policy among major economies, the G20 has expanded its agenda over the years to include climate action, health resilience, debt relief, trade, and sustainable development. The 2025 Summit, themed “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” placed special focus on disaster resilience, debt sustainability for low-income countries, critical minerals governance, energy transition finance, food security, and digital public infrastructure.
In an unprecedented move, leaders adopted a 122-point declaration on the very first day—a striking show of unity at a time when previous G20 sessions had struggled to secure consensus even by their close. The declaration’s adoption carried added significance as the United States completely boycotted the summit, while China and Russia were represented not by their heads of state but by senior officials. Yet the remaining members moved forward with confidence, sending a clear signal that major global decisions can be shaped—even implemented—without American participation.
This shift underscores the rise of a new multilateral confidence among the Global South and middle powers. The declaration emphasized a more representative and equitable global governance architecture, reflecting concerns central to developing nations: sovereign debt, climate justice, fair access to resources, and inclusive development. These are precisely the issues the Trump administration has pushed back against, rejecting their framing as ideological or “anti-American.” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized the summit’s theme as “DEI rhetoric and climate activism,” underscoring Washington’s growing discomfort with a forum no longer shaped by Western priorities.
Underlying tensions between Washington and Pretoria further defined the summit’s backdrop. In the months preceding the meeting, relations deteriorated after a contentious White House encounter in which President Donald Trump confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with disputed claims about attacks on white farmers. Trump accused the South African government of land seizures and targeted violence, even displaying images of white crosses to dramatize his allegations. Ramaphosa firmly dismissed the charges, calling them misleading and emphasizing that South Africa’s violent crime victims are overwhelmingly Black. The episode was widely viewed in South Africa as humiliating and deepened diplomatic rifts.
Against this contentious backdrop, the successful adoption of the G20 declaration in the US’s absence reflected growing agency among developing nations, as well as Africa’s expanding strategic significance. Much of this transformation has roots in India’s G20 presidency in 2023, when New Delhi steered the forum’s priorities away from singular focus on the Ukraine war and toward the pressing needs of developing nations. Issues such as inflation, food insecurity, sustainable development, and climate finance—largely sidelined by Western agendas—came to the fore due to India’s persistent diplomacy. It was also during India’s presidency that the African Union was inducted as a permanent G20 member, a historic moment that elevated Africa’s voice within global governance.
At the Johannesburg Summit, India’s role continued to be influential. Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a warm welcome and delivered a wide-ranging address centred on redefining development paradigms. Drawing on India’s civilizational philosophy of integral humanism, Modi argued that global progress must harmonize human welfare, societal needs, and environmental balance. “We will have to look at the individual, society, and nature as an integrated whole,” he said, calling for development models that value cultural wisdom alongside sustainability.
Modi raised critical global challenges, including the growing drug–terror nexus and the weaponization of emerging technologies. He called for strengthened global financial tracking mechanisms and advocated for a shift toward open-source, human-centric technological ecosystems. Highlighting India’s innovations in recycling and urban mining, he urged countries to reduce their dependence on primary extraction—an issue made urgent by China’s dominance in critical mineral supply chains.
A major pillar of India’s agenda was Africa’s development. Modi proposed the G20–Africa Skills Multiplier Initiative, a “train-the-trainer” program aimed at producing one million certified trainers over the next decade to boost youth employment and skills development across the continent. He also emphasized the need to preserve global traditional knowledge systems, proposing a Global Traditional Knowledge Repository under the G20.
Modi further supported establishing a joint G20 health emergency response team and advocated for shifting from disaster response to disaster-resilient development, recalling the Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group created during India’s 2023 presidency.
India’s presence at the summit reaffirmed its growing stature as an agenda-setter and bridge-builder between the Global North and South. It showcased India’s capacity to mediate perspectives, influence global priorities, and offer practical solutions grounded in civilizational values.
Ultimately, the historic G20 Summit in Africa symbolized a decisive moment in the transition toward a multipolar world. The adoption of the declaration without U.S. participation underscored the expanding autonomy of developing nations. Coupled with India’s sustained diplomatic efforts since 2023, the summit marked a shift toward more inclusive and equitable global governance—one shaped not by a single power bloc but by a broader coalition committed to justice, sustainability, and shared prosperity.
