Dr S Jaishankar to attend G20 foreign ministers meeting in South Africa

New Delhi, Feb 19: External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar will visit Johannesburg, South Africa, on February 20-21, 2025, to participate in the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (FMM). The visit comes at the invitation of South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola.

The G20 FMM will bring together top diplomats from the world’s largest economies to discuss pressing global challenges, including geopolitical tensions, economic recovery, sustainable development, and climate change. India’s participation is expected to reinforce its engagement with the G20 and amplify the concerns of the Global South. On the sidelines of the meeting, Jaishankar is also scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with key counterparts.

The G20, established in 1999, is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 countries and the European Union, representing over 80% of global GDP. Initially focused on economic issues, the group has evolved into a broader platform addressing political, security, and environmental concerns.

India hosted the G20 presidency in 2023, culminating in the New Delhi Leaders’ Summit, where member states reached a consensus on key economic and developmental priorities.

In 2024, Brazil took over the presidency, South Africa took G20 presidency from 1 December 2024 to 30 November 2025, The upcoming discussions in Johannesburg will build on previous commitments while addressing emerging geopolitical and economic challenges.