Terror, climate, Global South: G20 backs India’s concerns

India’s key priorities, such as the campaign against terrorism and bolstering financing for addressing the climate crisis, and measures to address the concerns of the Global South found resonance in the declaration adopted at the G20 Summit in South Africa despite opposition from the US, which is boycotting the event.

- HT Correspondent

Several outcomes in the “G20 South Africa Summit: Leaders’ Declaration” built on initiatives taken up by India during its presidency of the G20 in 2023, including a renewed focus on the issues of the Global South. The declaration was unanimously adopted at the start of talks in Johannesburg, unlike the usual practice of being adopted at the end of the summit.

India and the other members used the first G20 Summit to be held in Africa to put the issues and problems of impoverished countries at the top of the agenda. The declaration, using language opposed by the US, “can't be renegotiated”, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson said.

With India pushing for renewed international efforts to combat terrorism since the Pahalgam terror attack of April, the G20 declaration condemned “terrorism in all its forms and manifestations”. People familiar with the matter said this was a key outcome from India’s point of view.