SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals | SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Institutions: Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) | Ministry of Finance | Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs)
The G20 Johannesburg Summit (November 2025) concluded with the adoption of a Leaders’ Declaration, hailed by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa as a significant victory for multilateralism. The summit successfully placed the priorities of Africa and the broader Global South firmly at the center of the G20 agenda, building on the foundation laid by previous presidencies (Indonesia, India, Brazil). The declaration commits major economies to tackling global inequality, reforming international financial systems to ease debt pressures on developing countries, and boosting inclusive growth.
Despite South Africa’s success in forging consensus, the summit was marked by geopolitical fractures, including a highly visible boycott by the United States. South Africa successfully pushed through the G20 Leaders’ Declaration over U.S. objections, with the final text urging all states to refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition.
The final session focused on “A Fair and a Just Future for All,” formalizing coordinated steps on key future-economy issues:
Critical Minerals: Brazil and Indonesia stressed that critical minerals must serve as engines of technological development and sovereign industrial growth, rather than confining resource-rich nations to raw-material suppliers. The G20’s commitment is to enhance responsible and transparent cooperation on critical minerals. This aims to prevent developing countries from being relegated solely to raw-material suppliers and to integrate their mineral wealth into the global supply chains for technological development.
Climate & Finance: Leaders agreed to scale up climate finance, strengthen Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), and advance energy security.
Artificial Intelligence (AI): India led the conversation on AI governance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a global compact on AI based on the core principles of human oversight, safety by design, and transparency, urging strict restrictions on AI use in deepfakes, crime, and terror.
India further demonstrated its assertive role through bilateral and trilateral initiatives: it announced a Joint Initiative with Italy to Counter Financing of Terrorism (deepening collaboration in FATF and GCTF) and launched the Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership to deepen collaboration in emerging technologies.
Policy Relevance: The summit’s success in adopting a declaration despite the U.S. boycott confirms the growing political will and diplomatic weight of the Global South within multilateral institutions. For India, the consensus on reforming MDBs and setting a forward-looking agenda on critical minerals and AI directly enhances its ability to secure favorable investment frameworks for its green transition and emerging technology goals.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can the G20 successfully enforce new standards for “responsible and transparent cooperation” on critical minerals to prevent resource-rich developing nations from becoming confined to raw-material suppliers?
Follow the full news here: President Ramaphosa Hails G20 Declaration as Victory for Multilateralism
G20 concludes 2025 summit with unified commitments on climate action and empowering Global South