Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to travel to Johannesburg, South Africa, for the G20 Leaders’ Summit scheduled from November 21 to 23, according to an official statement released on Wednesday. The summit, hosted by the Republic of South Africa, marks the fourth consecutive G20 meeting taking place in the Global South.
This year’s summit will include three major sessions, and the statement confirmed that PM Modi is expected to deliver remarks in all of them. The discussions will span a broad range of global priorities, including inclusive economic development, climate change, disaster resilience, energy transitions, food security, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
The three sessions are categorised as follows:
- Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth — Leaving No One Behind:
This session will focus on strategies to strengthen global economies, the role of trade, financing avenues for development, and challenges related to rising debt burdens. - A Resilient World — The G20’s Contribution:
Leaders will deliberate on disaster risk reduction, climate change mitigation, just energy transitions, and building robust food systems for the future. - A Fair and Just Future for All:
This segment will address critical minerals, issues related to decent work conditions, and the growing impact and governance of artificial intelligence.
On the sidelines of the summit, PM Modi is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with several world leaders. Additionally, he is likely to participate in the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Leaders’ Meeting.
The gathering comes a year after India hosted the G20 Summit in September 2023.
Trump to Skip G20 Summit
Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump announced that no US officials would attend the Johannesburg Summit. His decision comes as South Africa prepares to hand over the annual G20 Presidency to the United States.
Trump claimed that his withdrawal was prompted by alleged persecution of white Afrikaner farmers in South Africa—an accusation repeatedly denied by the South African government as well as by members of the white community. His remarks triggered sharp criticism from the South African government and the ruling African National Congress, which accused Trump of “imperialist interference.”