The 20th summit of the Group of 20 (G20), held under the South African presidency in Johannesburg from November 22-23, is not an easy conference to assess. While it is undoubtedly imbued with historic significance as the first summit convened on the African continent, it faced – for the first time – a virtual boycott by its most important and influential member, the U.S., the country which had taken the initiative to launch the G20 summit in 2008. Besides, a few other members were not represented at the highest political level at the summit: Argentina, Mexico, Russia, China, and Indonesia. However, the host nation and all other participants contributed their best to ensure that the summit was well prepared, conducted, and concluded.
Hence, the question arises: What has it achieved? The answer lies in a close look at three different facets of the summit: the speeches and interventions by the participating leaders in various sessions; other developments, such as the meetings and pull-asides on the sidelines; and the content of the Leaders Declaration that was adopted at the summit’s commencement with consensus from the leaders present. The U.S. objected to the summit issuing the Declaration without its input, and Argentina, citing the same, withdrew from it at the last minute.
Of the three aspects, the most important is the Leaders Declaration, the outcome of months of discussions among Sherpas who were obliged to incorporate inputs not only from other organs of their respective governments but also from the entire spectrum of the non-governmental sector. The declaration is adopted at the beginning, not the conclusion, of the summit. Therefore, the leaders’ interventions during the summit may not be fully reflected in the final negotiated outcome document.
Of the last four consecutive G20 presidencies, South Africa produced the longest declaration, comprising 122 paragraphs, as compared to Indonesia (52), India (83), and Brazil (85). Whether this was because global challenges have become more complex over the past years or because of the African way of expression is not immediately known. It is, however, clear that the Johannesburg Declaration has comprehensively articulated the participants’ collective views. These are categorised into 20 sections, ranging from South Africa’s key priorities, viz. disaster resilience, debt sustainability, finance for just energy transition, and critical minerals for inclusive growth, to issues handled by the Finance track, food security, global development agenda, and an inclusive G20.
Facing rising geopolitical and geo-economic competition and instability, the G20 reiterated its belief in multilateral cooperation to address shared global challenges. It highlighted the Global South’s perspective in general and the African view point in particular on specific issues relating to climate change, the need to make the debt burden bearable, to make adequate financial sources available for development, and to handle issues relating to mining, processing and building supply chains for critical minerals in such a manner that the interests of developing countries are safeguarded. Paragraph 49 referred to the launching of the second phase of the G20 Compact with Africa for 2025-33, based on the promise of new investments by developed nations in African economies that embrace reform. The G20’s contribution to the global development agenda and equitable governance was spelled out in a total of 35 paragraphs.
In a concluding paragraph, the document, in an apparent dig at the U.S. boycott, expressed participants’ commitment to the G20 as the premier forum for international economic cooperation and “its continued operation in the spirit of multilateralism, based on consensus, with all members participating on an equal footing in all its events, including Summits in accordance with international obligations.”
The summit ended on a widely-shared sense of satisfaction and achievement, but it was tempered by considerable concern about how the G20 Presidency may fare under the U.S. next year. The outgoing chair could not formally hand over the summit gavel to the next chair, who was absent from Johannesburg. It was, therefore, placed on the table to be sent to the U.S., presumably through diplomatic channels – not an ideal arrangement. But what was more worrisome was the U.S. reaction. Anna Kelly, the White House spokeswoman, stated: “This (the gavel issue), coupled with South Africa’s push to issue a G20 Leaders Declaration, despite consistent and robust U.S. objections, underscores the fact that they have weaponised their G20 presidency to undermine the G20’s founding principles.”
Observers were busy raising questions about how the U.S. will manage a G20 now seemingly tilted in favour of the Global South, and how the next Troika, comprising South Africa, the U.S., and the UK, will conduct itself in light of the public rift and distrust between Pretoria and Washington.
From the Indian perspective, the Johannesburg summit was a success. In his three interventions at three different sessions of the summit, Prime Minister Modi presented innovative proposals, including the proposed G20-Africa Skills Multiplier Initiative and G20-Global Healthcare Response Team. What the G20 may eventually do with them by way of acceptance and actual implementation, remains to be seen.
The prime minster met many leaders, including those of Australia, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Brazil, and some of the invitee countries from Africa, such as Ethiopia. The two trilateral meetings – one with Canada and Australia, and the other with Brazil and South Africa, had in concrete outcomes. The first issued a joint statement on the trilateral technology and innovation partnership the Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership[1] especially in critical and emerging technologies, energy resilient supply chains, including in critical minerals and artificial intelligence. The second trilateral, the IBSA summit sent a clear signal that the platform connecting three continents, three democracies, and three large economies was alive and kicking, and intends to seek further avenues of cooperation.
Sudhakar Dalela, Secretary for Economic Relations in the Ministry of External Affairs, observed that for India, the G20 remained an important forum, where “issues of importance to the Global South are at the centre of our discussions and are being highlighted.”
Now, the G20’s challenge is to restore its unity and credibility by working toward reconciliation with its next president, the U.S. India will enhance its credibility and influence as a North-South bridge once its relationship with the U.S. improves following the conclusion of the bilateral trade agreement, currently under negotiation.
Rajiv Bhatia is the Distinguished Fellow for Foreign Policy Studies and a former ambassador.
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References:
[1] Press Information Bureau, “Joint Statement by the Government of India, the Government of Australia and the Government of Canada,” November 22, 2025, https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2193028