Why in News?

• At the 2025 G-20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, the host South Africa achieved the adoption of the G-20 Leaders’ Declaration by consensus—despite the U.S. boycott and attempts to block the text.
• This was the first G-20 Summit held in Africa, marking an important moment for the Global South, African development, and the evolving global governance architecture.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Adoption of the Declaration
• Key Themes and Priorities in the G-20 Declaration
• South Africa’s Bilateral Balancing with the US
• India’s Priorities and Contributions
• Broader Geopolitical Backdrop
• Challenges Ahead
• Way Ahead
• Conclusion

Adoption of the Declaration:

• Unusual early adoption:
  • The Declaration was adopted at the start of the Summit, not at the end—an unprecedented step.
  • Negotiated and finalised by Sherpas, enabling early clearance.
• South Africa’s stand:
  • Declared the adoption an “affirmation of multilateralism.”
  • Asserted that the G20 cannot be paralysed due to the absence of any single country, including the U.S.
• US opposition: The U.S. did not participate and attempted to block the Declaration. Boycott due to deteriorating Washington–Pretoria ties.

Key Themes and Priorities in the G-20 Declaration:

• Multilateralism and global cooperation:
  • Reiterated commitment to the UN Charter, international law and peaceful settlement of disputes.
  • Emphasised the African philosophy Ubuntu: “I am because we are.”
• Weak position on conflicts:
  • Minimal references to Russia–Ukraine war, Gaza conflict, Middle East tensions.
  • Single-line condemnation of terrorism - “Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.”
  • Still included a key line - states must refrain from use of force for territorial acquisition.
• Global South issues:
  • Strong emphasis on debt sustainability, development financing, inequality, African priorities.
  • India ensured Global South concerns, a continuation of India’s 2023 G20 presidency.
• UN Security Council (UNSC) reform: Called for “transformative reform” of UNSC. Sought increased representation for Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America & Caribbean.
• Women-led development: Reaffirmed commitment to empowerment of women and girls, removing socio-economic barriers, promoting women-led development, and recognising women as agents of peace.

South Africa’s Bilateral Balancing with the US:

• Balanced diplomacy: Acknowledged the economic importance of the U.S. which is South Africa’s second largest trading partner. Rejected U.S. claims of “genocide of white farmers” as baseless.
• Debt sustainability push: Highlighted issue of risk-parity - countries with same risk but higher interest rates.

India’s Priorities and Contributions:

• Reconsidering global parameters of growth:
  • The Indian PM argued current economic models have left many deprived of resources and caused over-exploitation of nature.
  • He stressed the need to rethink development, especially as Africa remains most affected.
• “Integral Humanism”:
  • The Indian PM promoted Deen Dayal Upadhyay’s Integral Humanism - holistic development of individuals and society through the integration of material and spiritual well-being.
  • It will provide an alternative to Western ideologies such as individualism, secularism, communism.
• Key initiatives proposed by India:
  • Global traditional knowledge repository: For sustainable, culturally rooted, eco-balanced lifestyles.
  • G20–Africa Skills Multiplier initiative: India to train 1 million Africans in skill sectors.
  • G20 Global Healthcare Response Team.
  • G20 Initiative on Countering the Drug–Terror nexus: Highlighted fentanyl, drug trafficking, and terror financing.
  • G20 Open Satellite Data Partnership: Sharing agriculture, fishing, disaster data.
  • Critical Minerals Circularity Initiative: Recycling, sustainable mining, strategic minerals.
• India’s diplomatic engagements: ACITI Partnership (Australia–Canada–India) launched for technology and innovation, AI, clean energy, supply chain resilience.

Broader Geopolitical Backdrop:

• Rising geopolitical fragmentation: Declaration notes trade wars (US tariff wars under Trump), geoeconomic competition, conflicts, inequalities, uncertainty in global economy.
• Absence of U.S.: First-ever G20 Summit boycotted by the U.S. Raises questions on global leadership transitions.

Challenges Ahead:

• Weak consensus on global conflicts: Almost no mention of Ukraine, Gaza. Makes it one of the weakest declarations in G20 history.
• Debt sustainability for developing nations: High interest rates for the same risk profile.
• Geopolitical fragmentation: US–South Africa tensions, rise of competing blocs.
• Inequality and resource deprivation: Current growth models unsustainable.
• Climate change: G20 responsible for the majority of emissions—yet slow collective action.

Way Forward:

• Strengthen multilateral institutions: Reform UNSC, empower Global South.
• Sustainable development framework: Integrate traditional knowledge, eco-balanced growth, and integral humanism.
• Gender-inclusive development: Remove socio-economic barriers, promote women-led governance.
• Digital cooperation and technology partnerships: Example, ACITI partnership, Satellite data sharing, etc.
• Counter Drug–Terror nexus: Multilateral intelligence-sharing; regulation of fentanyl, synthetic opioids.
• Climate action: Promote critical mineral recycling, clean energy supply chains.

Conclusion:

• The 2025 Johannesburg G20 Declaration marks a pivotal moment in global governance, with Africa asserting leadership, the Global South shaping priorities, and the G20 adopting consensus despite U.S. boycott.
• While the declaration is symbolically strong on multilateralism, it is weak on major global conflicts and hard security issues.
• India played a crucial role in embedding developmental, gender, and sustainability priorities and propelled new initiatives aligned with integral humanism and South–South cooperation.