Prime Minister Narendra Modi has departed for Johannesburg on a three-day visit to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit being hosted by South Africa. Ahead of the summit, he said he would present India’s perspective “in line with our vision,” emphasising that India’s approach to global engagement is guided by the idea of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the world is one family—and the message of “One Earth, One Family, One Future.” These themes, which framed India’s own G20 presidency, continue to shape its role in international forums.
This year’s G20 Summit is especially significant as it is being held on the African continent for the first time. South Africa, which holds the presidency, has placed issues of solidarity, equality and sustainability at the heart of its agenda. The leaders’ gathering in Johannesburg brings together major advanced and emerging economies along with invited guest countries and international organisations, at a time when the global system is facing overlapping crises in health, economy, climate and geopolitics.
In his departure statement, the prime minister underlined that India will not only put forward its national priorities but also speak as a strong and responsible voice of the Global South. He pointed out that many developing countries are still dealing with the economic scars of the pandemic, high debt levels, disruptions in supply chains and volatility in food and energy markets. In this context, India intends to push for reforms in global financial architecture, greater representation for developing countries in decision-making bodies, and a more responsive multilateral system.
One of the central themes India is expected to highlight is inclusive and sustainable growth. New Delhi has consistently argued that globalisation and technological progress must benefit the widest sections of society, not just a few. At the summit, the Indian side is likely to showcase its experience with digital public infrastructure such as digital ID, digital payments and online service delivery platforms, as examples of how technology can be used to improve governance, empower citizens and support small businesses in an affordable way.
Climate change and the green transition will be another major pillar of discussion. South Africa has made it clear that climate action, energy transition and climate finance will feature prominently in its presidency priorities. India, while committed to expanding renewable energy and reducing the emissions intensity of its economy, is expected to stress climate justice and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. The prime minister is likely to reiterate that developing countries need much larger flows of concessional finance, technology transfer and capacity-building support if they are to pursue low-carbon growth without compromising developmental needs.
Debt distress in low- and middle-income countries is also likely to figure strongly in the leaders’ deliberations. Several economies are experiencing rising repayment burdens, limited fiscal space and difficulties in accessing affordable finance. India has, in recent years, taken up the cause of more effective and timely debt restructuring, especially through multilateral mechanisms. At Johannesburg, it is expected to support practical steps to speed up debt relief, strengthen the role of multilateral development banks, and design instruments that can crowd in private investment for infrastructure and sustainable development.
The summit is taking place in a context of heightened geopolitical tensions and divisions over conflicts and sanctions. These fault lines have, in the past, made it difficult for the G20 to arrive at consensus language in joint communiqués, especially on security and political issues. Despite this, both the host country and many participating nations are keen to show that the forum can still deliver concrete progress on core economic and developmental questions. India’s presence and active engagement will be watched closely to see whether it can help bridge positions among differing blocs.
On the sidelines of the main G20 sessions, the prime minister is scheduled to participate in the sixth summit of IBSA, the trilateral grouping of India, Brazil and South Africa. This platform, which brings together three large democracies from the Global South, is expected to review cooperation in areas such as trade, health, education, digital innovation and capacity-building. The leaders are also likely to discuss coordination on multilateral reforms, including efforts to make global institutions more representative of contemporary realities.
A series of bilateral meetings with other world leaders are also being planned during the visit. These engagements typically cover a wide spectrum of issues: strengthening defence and security ties, promoting trade and investments, collaborating on critical minerals and resilient supply chains, and exploring joint work in advanced technologies such as clean energy, green hydrogen, space and digital innovation. Such meetings also provide opportunities to follow up on earlier commitments and identify new areas of partnership.
The prime minister’s programme in South Africa is expected to include an interaction with members of the Indian diaspora as well. South Africa hosts one of the oldest and largest communities of Indian origin outside India, with deep historical and cultural linkages. Addressing the diaspora has become a regular aspect of the prime minister’s foreign visits, serving both to acknowledge their contributions in the host country and to underline people-to-people bonds as a vital pillar of bilateral relations.
For India, the Johannesburg summit represents an opportunity to consolidate the momentum generated during its own G20 presidency. The themes that New Delhi championed—such as inclusive growth, digital transformation, climate action with climate justice, women-led development and giving a stronger voice to the Global South—are expected to reappear in its interventions. By reiterating that he will present India’s views “in line with our vision,” the prime minister is signalling that the country sees itself as a long-term, constructive player in reshaping global governance.
As discussions unfold over the coming days, much attention will focus on whether leaders can move beyond differences to reach common ground on pressing issues like climate finance, debt relief and sustainable development. While the global situation remains complex and often polarised, the G20 still offers a rare platform where advanced and emerging economies sit together to search for shared solutions. India’s decision to engage fully, articulate its developmental priorities and advocate for the concerns of the Global South positions it as an important bridge-builder at this crucial moment.
How successful the summit will be in delivering tangible outcomes will become clear once negotiations on the leaders’ document conclude and concrete initiatives are announced. But India’s message is already evident: that it seeks a world order based on cooperation, fairness and shared prosperity, and that it intends to use forums like the G20 to push that vision forward on behalf of both its own citizens and the wider community of developing nations.
