India’s growing diplomatic presence will once again take centre stage as Prime Minister Narendra Modi participates in the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg this week.
His interventions are expected to carry significant weight, particularly on issues that matter to emerging economies.
PM Modi’s consistent focus on bridging inequalities between developed and developing nations has shaped India’s recent engagements within the G20.
His statements in South Africa are likely to underline the priorities of the Global South at a time of evolving geopolitical alignments.
This year’s summit marks the fourth consecutive G20 meeting held in the Global South and the first hosted on African soil, underscoring a broader shift in global governance.
India has strongly advocated such representation, especially for nations whose development concerns global forums often sideline.
Under New Delhi’s stewardship in 2023, the G20 witnessed major milestones, including the historic induction of the African Union as a permanent member, an achievement widely credited to India’s sustained diplomatic outreach.
India’s 2023 Presidency Leaves a Strong Legacy
India’s presidency revitalised discussions on inclusive growth, digital public infrastructure, climate financing and the reform of multilateral development banks.
These priorities reflected New Delhi’s emphasis on human-centric globalisation, aiming to extend the benefits of global cooperation to the world’s most vulnerable communities.
The inclusion of the African Union significantly enhanced the G20’s representativeness, offering the continent a formal seat at the table in shaping economic and developmental policies.
The Johannesburg summit, however, will witness notable absences. US President Donald Trump, China’s President Xi Jinping and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin will not attend, prompting debate on the relevance and resilience of multilateral groupings amid global tensions.
Trump’s decision aligns with his recurrent scepticism of multilateral forums, while Putin’s absence follows legal and diplomatic constraints. Xi’s non-attendance mirrors last year’s New Delhi summit, though China remains engaged through Premier Li Qiang.
Observers expect Prime Minister Modi to conduct several bilateral meetings in Johannesburg. A key highlight will be his participation in the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Leaders’ Meeting, where discussions are likely to reinforce cooperation among the three major democratic economies of the Global South.
Also Read: India To Reinforce Global South Priorities As PM Modi Heads To G20 Summit In Johannesburg
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