International RelationsImportant2025-11-22

20th G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg

Q: Which of the following statements regarding the 20th G20 Leaders' Summit is/are correct? 1. It was the first G20 summit to be hosted on the African continent. 2. The African Union was officially inducted as a permanent member of the G20 during this summit in Johannesburg.

A) 1 only — Statement 1 is correct, as South Africa hosted the 20th Summit, marking the first time the G20 met in Africa. Statement 2 is incorrect because the African Union was inducted as a permanent member earlier, during India's G20 Presidency at the New Delhi Summit in 2023.

In News

What Happened

The 20th G20 Leaders' Summit took place in Johannesburg, South Africa, on November 22, 2025, marking the first time the forum was hosted on the African continent. Operating under the theme 'Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability', world leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, convened to address pressing issues facing the developing world. The agenda heavily prioritised Global South advocacy, focusing on structural debt relief and climate adaptation financing.

Why It Matters

The summit is crucial for India as it solidifies its strategic position as a leading voice for the Global South, a role championed during its own 2023 presidency. By pushing for reformed multilateral development banks and equitable climate finance, India continues to secure economic and developmental safeguards vital for emerging economies.

Background

History & Context

The G20 was established in 1999 following the Asian financial crisis and elevated to a Leaders' Summit in 2008. South Africa's 2025 presidency marks the culmination of a historic sequence of four consecutive Global South presidencies—Indonesia (2022), India (2023), Brazil (2024), and South Africa (2025). The permanent inclusion of the African Union, achieved during the 2023 New Delhi Summit, set the stage for South Africa to fully integrate African debt sustainability and climate vulnerability into the core G20 framework.

What Changed

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BEFORE: G20 summits had never been hosted in Africa, historically limiting the continent's ability to shape the host's agenda. NOW: South Africa's hosting marked the first African G20 summit, allowing the agenda to be directly anchored in continental priorities like structural debt relief.
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BEFORE: Climate finance discussions in global forums largely emphasized mitigation targets driven by developed nations' interests. NOW: The Johannesburg summit explicitly prioritized climate adaptation financing, demanding actionable mechanisms to help vulnerable nations adapt to existing climate impacts.
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BEFORE: The African Union was either an invitee or a newly inducted member navigating the G20 structure. NOW: As a fully integrated permanent member, the AU actively co-shaped the deliverables alongside South Africa, pushing unified Global South advocacy on sovereign debt frameworks.

Prelims Angle

NCERT Connection

This event directly applies concepts from Class 12 Political Science Chapter 6 — International Organisations. It illustrates the evolution of global economic governance from Western-dominated institutions toward more representative frameworks that reflect Global South advocacy, addressing modern challenges like climate adaptation financing and equitable debt sustainability.

Practice Questions

Q1

Correct Statement(s)

Which of the following statements regarding the 20th G20 Leaders' Summit is/are correct? 1. It was the first G20 summit to be hosted on the African continent. 2. The African Union was officially inducted as a permanent member of the G20 during this summit in Johannesburg.

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