Johannesburg, South Africa - Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 20th G20 Summit in Johannesburg today, calling for a unified global strategy to combat the escalating threat posed by the nexus between drug trafficking and terrorism. Speaking at the first session of the summit, which centered on inclusive and sustainable growth, Modi emphasized the urgent need for international cooperation to dismantle the financial and operational links between drug cartels and terrorist organizations.

The Prime Minister voiced concerns over the rapid global spread of highly dangerous synthetic drugs, particularly fentanyl, highlighting the severe risks they pose to public health, social stability, and global security. To address this critical issue, PM Modi proposed a G20 Initiative on Countering the Drug-Terror Nexus. This initiative aims to integrate financial, governance, and security instruments to effectively weaken the drug-terror economy. The core priorities include dismantling drug-trafficking networks, disrupting illicit financial flows, and crippling a major source of funding for terrorist groups. Modi stressed that this challenge can only be addressed through cohesive and unified global action.

"To overcome the challenge of drug trafficking, especially the spread of extremely dangerous substances like fentanyl, India proposes a G20 Initiative on Countering the Drug–Terror Nexus. Let us weaken the wretched drug-terror economy," Modi stated.

In addition to the counter-narcotics initiative, Prime Minister Modi proposed several other key initiatives aimed at bolstering global development and cooperation. These include:

• G20 Global Healthcare Response Team: Modi proposed the creation of a G20 Global Healthcare Response Team, composed of trained medical experts from G20 nations ready for rapid deployment in the event of health emergencies and natural disasters. "We are stronger when we work together in the face of health emergencies and natural disasters," Modi said.
• G20-Africa Skills Multiplier Initiative: Recognizing Africa's vital role in global progress, Modi also championed a G20-Africa Skills Multiplier Initiative. This initiative aims to create one million certified trainers in Africa within the next decade.
• Global Traditional Knowledge Repository: Modi proposed establishing a Global Traditional Knowledge Repository under the G20. Powered by Indian Knowledge Systems, this initiative seeks to preserve eco-balanced, culturally rich, and socially cohesive ways of living and pass on sustainable insights to future generations.

The Prime Minister also emphasized the importance of revisiting global development parameters to pursue inclusive and sustainable growth. He suggested that India's civilizational values, particularly the principle of Integral Humanism, offer a viable path forward.

The 20th G20 Summit in Johannesburg marks the first time the summit has been held in Africa. South Africa assumed the G20 presidency on December 1, 2024, and will hold it until November 30, 2025. The summit's agenda focuses on helping developing economies adapt to the climate crisis, transition to clean energy, and address excessive debt. South Africa's presidency emphasizes "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability," with a focus on building partnerships across all sectors of society to realize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The G20 is composed of 19 countries and the European Union. Together, G20 members represent approximately 87% of global GDP, 62% of the world's population, and over 75% of global trade.