G20 Summit | India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi hails G20 Summit as a success

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to New Delhi after attending the G20 summit in Johannesburg, hosted by South Africa for the first time on the African continent. Modi described the event as a resounding success that will contribute to a prosperous and sustainable planet by addressing key issues facing developing nations. Reactions in India echo praise from the global south, commending South Africa for maintaining an inclusive agenda. Criticism has been directed at US President Donald Trump for boycotting the summit, with many viewing it as a failed attempt to derail proceedings; his absence is credited with fostering closer ties among India, Brazil, and South Africa through the IBSA (India-Brazil-South Africa) forum, marking their first heads-of-state meeting in over a decade. At the sidelines, Modi highlighted that global institutions fail to reflect 21st-century realities, signaling renewed cooperation among emerging economies amid shared criticisms from Trump on domestic policies and trade issues. Experts note that China's President Xi Jinping's absence enabled the IBSA focus, rather than the broader BRICS grouping including Russia. Lighter moments, such as a humorous exchange between Modi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa about the challenges of hosting the G20—where Ramaphosa joked they might have 'run away' if forewarned, and praised India's 2023 hosting—have gone viral on Indian social media.