PM Modi to Attend G20 Summit in South Africa Amid Trump Boycott
Indian Prime Minister to present India’s views on inclusive growth, climate, AI, and critical minerals; bilateral and IBSA meetings also on agenda as first-ever African G20 summit unfolds.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting South Africa from November 21-23 to attend the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, amid a boycott of the event by the Trump administration
According to a statement, At the Summit, Prime Minister Modi will put forth India’s perspectives on the G20 agenda.
He is expected to speak in all the three sessions of the Summit.
These sessions are on:
i. Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth Leaving No One Behind : Building our economies; the role of trade; financing for development and the debt burden
ii. A Resilient World – the G20’s Contribution: Disaster Risk Reduction; Climate Change; Just Energy Transitions; Food Systems
iii. A Fair and a Just Future for All: Critical Minerals; Decent Work; Artificial Intelligence.
On the margins of the G20 Leaders’ Summit, Prime Minister Modi is expected to hold bilateral meetings with some of the leaders present in Johannesburg.
Prime Minister Modi will also be participating in the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Leaders’ Meeting being hosted by South Africa, the statement added.
The statement also noted that this will be the fourth consecutive G20 Summit to be held in the Global South, following the 2022 summit held in Indonesia, then by India in 2023, by Brazil last year, and this year it is being hosted by South Africa.
Notably, the G20 Leaders’ Summit is being held for the first time in Africa.
During its presidency, India played a pivotal role in the African union (AU) becoming a permanent member of the G20 in 2023.
US President Donald Trump has announced a total boycott of the G20 in South Africa over his claims of “white genocide” and his criticsim of South Africa’s pursuit of Israeli accountability at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
President Trump has also called for South Africa to be expelled from the G20. The 2026 G20 summit is slated to be held in Miami, Florida.
Other leaders who will be absent, include, Argentina’s President Javier Milei said he will be sending his foreign minister, Pablo Quirno. Russian President Vladimir Putin will be absent because of the International Criminal Court arrest warrant against him over the Ukraine conflict, while China will be sending Premier Li Qiang to the summit.
The G20 is a premier international forum for economic cooperation, bringing together the world's major economies to address global challenges and shape global governance. Its members represent around 85% of global GDP, over 75% of international trade, and two-thirds of the world's population.