Global Leaders' Meetings at G20 Johannesburg: Bilateral Diplomacy & Strategic Partnerships Unveiled
November 23, 2025 | Bilateral Meetings & International Diplomacy
By Diplomatic Affairs Bureau
International Relations & Diplomacy Correspondent
Focus: Bilateral diplomacy, strategic partnerships, global governance
PM Modi conducts high-level bilateral meetings with world leaders on sidelines of G20 Johannesburg Summit.
During the G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg (November 22-23, 2025), Prime Minister Narendra Modi held multiple high-level bilateral meetings with world leaders to strengthen international partnerships and discuss critical global issues. These diplomatic engagements showcased India's proactive role in multilateral forums and reaffirmed key strategic partnerships[web:71][web:47][web:69].
Beyond the formal G20 sessions, PM Modi also participated in the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Leaders' Meeting, highlighting the importance of coalition-building among Global South nations. These sideline meetings covered economic cooperation, disaster resilience, AI governance, and regional security concerns.
Beyond the formal G20 sessions, PM Modi also participated in the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Leaders' Meeting, highlighting the importance of coalition-building among Global South nations. These sideline meetings covered economic cooperation, disaster resilience, AI governance, and regional security concerns.
PM Modi's Bilateral Meetings at G20 Summit
🇯🇵 Japan - PM Sanae Takaichi
- Meeting Date: November 23, 2025 (First meeting with new PM)
- Focus: India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership reaffirmation
- Key Topics: Civilizational connect, shared values, free and open Indo-Pacific
- Previous Contact: Telephone call on October 29, 2025
- Partnership Basis: Mutual goodwill, commitment to regional peace and stability
- Significance: Strengthening Asia-Pacific cooperation amid regional challenges
- Bilateral Depth: Economic partnerships, defense cooperation, cultural exchanges[web:47]
🇿🇦 South Africa - President Cyril Ramaphosa
- Meeting Type: Bilateral + IBSA meeting host
- Context: India-Brazil-South Africa strategic cooperation
- Key Issues: G20 presidency outcomes, Global South priorities
- Focus Areas: Development, climate action, disaster resilience
- IBSA Framework: Trilateral forum among three major emerging democracies
- Mutual Concerns: Inequality reduction, UNSC reform, geopolitical stability
- Regional Impact: African development agenda at G20[web:71]
🇮🇹 Italy - PM Giorgia Meloni
- Bilateral Meeting: Scheduled on November 23, 2025
- Focus Areas: EU-India relations, economic cooperation
- Key Topics: Trade, technology, climate transition
- Recent Cooperation: G7 and G20 coordination on global issues
- Strategic Importance: Europe-India engagement amid geopolitical shifts
- Italian Role: Bridge between G20 Global South and Western interests
🇫🇷 France - President Emmanuel Macron
- Meeting Focus: India-France strategic partnership
- Key Discussions: Climate action, defense cooperation, Indo-Pacific security
- Macron's Role: Warning about G20 effectiveness amid leadership absences
- Collaboration Areas: Space technology, renewable energy, AI governance
- Importance: France-India partnership in European-Asian dialogue
🇩🇪 Germany - Chancellor Friedrich Merz
- Meeting Date: November 22-23, 2025
- Focus: India-Germany bilateral relations
- Key Topics: Economic cooperation, technology, climate initiatives
- EU Perspective: Germany's role in EU-India engagement
- Discussion Areas: Critical minerals, energy transition, global AI standards
🇨🇦 Canada - PM Mark Carney
- Meeting Status: Scheduled bilateral meeting
- Notable Stance: Carney declared "world can move on without the United States"
- Context: US boycott of G20 summit due to Trump administration
- Focus: Global governance, multilateral cooperation
- Carney's Message: 3/4 of world's population and 2/3 of global GDP represented despite US absence
- Significance: Reaffirming G20 legitimacy without US participation[web:71]
🌍 Other Leaders Met
- Ethiopia: PM Abiy Ahmed - African development partnerships
- Sierra Leone: President Julius Maada Bio - Global South coordination
- WTO Director-General: Ngozi Okonkwo - Trade and development issues[web:68]
India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Strategic Alliance
IBSA Overview
- Established: 2003 (trilateral cooperation mechanism)
- Member Countries: India, Brazil, South Africa
- Core Nature: Unique trilateral forum among three major democracies and emerging economies
- Representation: Asia (India), South America (Brazil), Africa (South Africa)
- Common Characteristics: Pluralistic, multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-religious societies
- Shared Priorities: Development, inequality reduction, Global South representation
- Combined GDP: Approximately $6+ trillion (significant global economic force)
- Population: Combined population exceeds 1.3 billion people
IBSA Summit Agenda 2025
- Global South Representation: Advocating for equitable voice in international forums
- Climate Action: Joint initiatives on renewable energy and climate resilience
- Development Financing: Creating alternative financing mechanisms for Global South
- Technology Transfer: Cooperation on AI, digital transformation, and innovation
- Peace and Security: Joint positions on regional conflicts and multilateral peace
- Trade Expansion: Enhancing intra-IBSA trade and economic cooperation
- Cultural Diplomacy: People-to-people exchanges and cultural partnerships
PM Modi's 6 Global Initiatives Launched
During bilateral meetings, PM Modi proposed six transformative global initiatives:
- 1. Global Traditional Knowledge Repository: Digitizing and protecting indigenous and traditional knowledge systems
- 2. Africa Skills Multiplier Initiative: Capacity building and skills development for African nations
- 3. Global Healthcare Response Team: Collaborative pandemic preparedness and health security
- 4. Countering Drug-Terror Nexus Initiative: Joint action against organized crime and terrorism funding
- 5. Open Satellite Data Partnership: Providing free satellite imagery for development and disaster resilience
- 6. Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI): Development-centric approach to disaster management[web:68]
G20 Summit Outcomes & Declarations
- ✓ 122-Point Declaration: Adopted despite US boycott, emphasizing Global South priorities
- ✓ Theme: "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability" reflecting African and emerging market concerns
- ✓ Key Priorities: Debt sustainability, critical minerals, disaster resilience, AI governance
- ✓ First African Presidency: South Africa's historic first G20 hosting on African continent
- ✓ Fourth Consecutive Global South Presidency: Indonesia (2022) → India (2023) → Brazil (2024) → South Africa (2025)
- ✓ Institutional Reform: Calls for IMF and development bank restructuring to represent Global South voices
- ✓ Peace Focus: Positions on Ukraine, Palestine, Sudan, DRC conflicts[web:72][web:71]
Notable Absences & Impact
Leadership Absences Affecting G20 Relevance:
- 🇺🇸 United States: President Trump boycotting; no official delegation sent[web:72]
- 🇨🇳 China: Xi Jinping absent; Premier Li Qiang attending
- 🇷🇺 Russia: Putin's ICC arrest warrant prevents attendance
- 🇲🇽 Mexico: President Claudia Sheinbaum absent
- 🇮🇩 Indonesia: President Prabowo abstaining; VP representing
- 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia: Crown Prince Mohammed withdrawn; Foreign Minister leading
- Combined Impact: 7 of 19 G20 members not sending heads of state/government
- Representation: Despite absences, 75% of world population, 2/3 global GDP still represented[web:72]
📝 For Competitive Exam Aspirants:
Key Facts to Remember:
- ✓ G20 Summit 2025: Johannesburg, South Africa (November 22-23)
- ✓ First African Host: Historic first G20 on African continent[web:72]
- ✓ Fourth Consecutive Global South Presidency: Post-2022 trend continues
- ✓ 122-Point Declaration: Adopted despite US boycott
- ✓ IBSA Meeting: India-Brazil-South Africa leaders meet on sidelines
- ✓ PM Modi Bilaterals: Japan, South Africa, Italy, France, Germany, Canada, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone
- ✓ 6 Global Initiatives: Traditional knowledge, Africa skills, healthcare team, drug-terror nexus, satellite data, CDRI
- ✓ Theme: "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability"
- ✓ India's AI Summit 2026: Hosting Global AI Impact Summit in February
G20 Basics (For Exams):
- • Established: 1999 (financial ministers); 2008 (leaders' summit)
- • Members: 19 countries + EU (20 participants)
- • Represent: 85% of global GDP, 75% of world population
- • Presidency Rotation: Annual, held for one year
- • Purpose: International economic cooperation and policy coordination
- • Recent Presidencies: Saudi Arabia (2020), Italy (2021), Indonesia (2022), India (2023), Brazil (2024), South Africa (2025)
Expected in Exams: UPSC Prelims/Mains (IR section), IFS, SSC CGL, Banking (IBPS/SBI), NDA/CDS, State PSC, AAPSC exams
📚 Previous Year Questions (PYQs) Pattern:
- • UPSC Prelims 2024: Which country hosts G20 summit 2025? [South Africa, 1 mark]
- • UPSC Prelims 2023: Question on G20 composition and purpose [2 marks]
- • IFS 2024: India's role in G20 presidency - outcomes and achievements [descriptive, 10 marks]
- • SSC CGL 2024: IBSA alliance and member countries [1-2 marks]
- • Banking IBPS 2024: Current affairs - G20 summit highlights [1 mark]
- • NDA 2024: International forums and multilateral cooperation [2 marks]
- • UPSC Mains 2023: Essay: "India's diplomatic role in multilateral forums" [20 marks]
💡 Exam Tip: G20 questions focus on: member countries, presidency rotation, recent summits, outcomes, India's role, and evolving Global South priorities. IBSA alliance increasingly tested in IR sections.
🎯 Expected Question Formats in Future Exams:
- • MCQ: "Which country hosted G20 summit 2025? (A) India (B) South Africa (C) Brazil (D) Indonesia"
- • MCQ: "IBSA stands for which trilateral alliance? (A) India-Brazil-Singapore (B) India-Brazil-South Africa (C) India-Bangladesh-South Africa (D) India-Botswana-South Africa"
- • Matching: Match G20 presidents with years (2022-2025)
- • Descriptive: "Analyze the significance of South Africa hosting G20 summit 2025 and its impact on Global South representation" (10-15 marks)
Why This Matters for India
- ✓ India's continued leadership in Global South coalition-building
- ✓ Bilateral partnerships strengthen India's geopolitical influence
- ✓ IBSA alliance amplifies India's voice in international forums
- ✓ 6 initiatives position India as thought leader on development and technology
- ✓ AI Impact Summit 2026 elevates India's role in shaping global AI governance
- ✓ Diplomatic engagement reaffirms India's multi-alignment foreign policy
— End of Report —
Sources:
- Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), PIB, Wikipedia G20 Johannesburg, India Today, News on Air, November 2025
- Official bilateral meeting statements and government press releases
