Editorial: G20 summit endorses India’s priorities

The G20 declaration condemning terrorism unequivocally was a key outcome from India’s perspective

India has clearly established itself as a voice of the Global South, championing causes that are important to developing countries. The recently concluded G20 summit in South Africa —the first held on African soil — confirms this. India influenced the priorities and outcomes of the summit. For instance, the campaign against terrorism and bolstering financing for addressing the climate crisis found resonance in the declaration adopted at the Johannesburg Summit, thereby amplifying the voice of the South. New Delhi has ensured that the key outcomes of its 2023 G20 Presidency continue to shape the agenda at this year’s summit. The declaration takes a firm stand against terrorism, unequivocally condemning all forms and manifestations — an area on which India has consistently pushed for a stronger global consensus. The ‘Leaders Declaration’ was unanimously adopted at the start of talks in Johannesburg, unlike the usual practice of being adopted at the end of the summit. With India pushing for renewed international efforts to combat terrorism since the Pahalgam terror attack of April, the G20 declaration condemned terrorism unequivocally. This was a key outcome from India’s perspective. In the absence of intervention from the United States, which boycotted the event, the joint declaration called for climate finance to be scaled up from billions to trillions of dollars. The mention of climate change was a snub to US President Donald Trump, who doubts the scientific consensus that global warming is caused by human activities. On climate finance, the declaration reinforced India’s position.
In addition to acknowledging the need to scale up climate finance to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, the declaration highlighted that developing countries will need almost $5.9 trillion to implement their nationally determined contributions for the pre-2030 period. The outcomes of the disaster risk reduction working group, initiated by the Indian presidency, were reinforced in the G20 declaration, which also recognised the role of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), which is jointly led by India and France. An acknowledgement of the transformative potential of digital public infrastructure was also an important takeaway from India’s perspective. Advancing the digital transformation agenda, the document highlights the growing role of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). It reinforces India’s call to harness emerging technologies — including artificial intelligence —while ensuring their development and deployment remain safe, secure, and trustworthy. Women-led development, a cornerstone of India’s presidency, continues to receive strong backing, with renewed emphasis on the empowerment of women. Food security has also remained a priority, with the reaffirmation of the Deccan High-Level Principles on Food Security and Nutrition adopted under India’s leadership. India’s call for comprehensive United Nations Security Council reforms — to make the body more representative — is also reflected in the declaration. With several sections closely mirroring the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration, the South African communiqué underscores India’s lasting influence on the G20 agenda.

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