New Delhi [India], November 19 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Johannesburg, South Africa, on Friday, November 21, for a three-day visit to attend the 20th G20 Leaders’ Summit, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Wednesday.
This year’s Summit, hosted by South Africa, marks the fourth consecutive G20 meeting held in the Global South, underscoring the increasing influence of emerging economies in global governance.
PM Modi will be in South Africa from November 21 to 23. According to the MEA, he will present India’s perspectives across the G20 agenda and is scheduled to address all three main sessions of the Summit.
These sessions include discussions on inclusive and sustainable economic growth, covering trade, development financing, and global debt challenges; deliberations on building a resilient world through disaster risk reduction, climate action, just energy transitions, and food systems; and a session dedicated to shaping a fair and just future, focusing on critical minerals, decent work, and artificial intelligence.
The MEA stated, “At the Summit, Prime Minister will put forth India’s perspectives on the G20 agenda. Prime Minister is expected to speak in all the three sessions of the Summit,” outlining the themes of each session.
On the sidelines of the Summit, PM Modi is expected to hold bilateral meetings with several world leaders. He will also participate in the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Leaders’ Meeting being hosted by South Africa.
The Summit comes amid the United States’ decision to boycott the gathering. Last week, US President Donald Trump said he would not attend, calling the situation in South Africa “a total disgrace” in a Truth Social post, adding that no US official would participate “as long as these human rights abuses continue.”
Citing reports from The Hill, the White House had earlier instructed federal agencies to halt preparations for the November 22–23 meeting, signaling Washington’s non-participation.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also announced on X that he “will NOT attend the G20 summit in Johannesburg.”
Reacting to the US decision, South African High Commissioner to India Anil Sooklal said the G20 remains “too big to fail” and will deliver a successful Summit regardless of the boycott. He termed the US move “unfortunate” but emphasized that the forum no longer depends on any single nation.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will preside over the Leaders’ Summit scheduled from November 22 to 23 at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg.
The G20 comprises 19 countries—Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States—alongside the European Union and the African Union.
Together, the G20 accounts for around 85 percent of global GDP, more than 75 percent of global trade, and roughly two-thirds of the world’s population. (ANI)
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