Johannesburg, South Africa – Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing the G20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Saturday, called for a unified global front against terrorism, emphasizing the need for "no double standards" in the approach to combating this menace. He asserted that a coordinated effort is crucial to tackle the drug-terror nexus, highlighting drug trafficking as a threat to public health, stability, and security, as well as a significant source of terror financing.
Modi's address underscored the importance of sustainable and inclusive growth, proposing four key initiatives to achieve this. He stressed the necessity of reconsidering the existing parameters of growth, which he believes have led to the deprivation of a vast section of the population and the overexploitation of nature. He advocated for an integrated approach, considering the individual, society, and nature as a whole, to achieve harmony between progress and the environment.
In a strong move against the financing of terrorism, India and Italy launched the "India-Italy Joint Initiative to Counter Financing of Terrorism" on the sidelines of the G20 Summit. This initiative reflects the shared determination of both nations to combat terrorism by strengthening cooperation against terror networks and enhancing coordination in multilateral platforms such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF). Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni conveyed her solidarity with India following the recent terror incident in Delhi and reaffirmed Italy's commitment to combating terrorism.
Furthermore, Modi proposed a G20 initiative to counter the drug-terror nexus, aimed at controlling drug trafficking and addressing the spread of highly lethal substances like fentanyl. He pointed out that drug trafficking poses a serious challenge to public health, social stability, and global security, serving as a major channel for financing terrorism. He called for the G20 to weaken the "wretched drug-terror economy" by bringing together financial governance and security tools for effective action.
In addition to counter-terrorism efforts, Modi proposed a G20 Critical Minerals Circularity Initiative to promote recycling, urban mining, and second-life batteries. He emphasized that investing in circularity would reduce dependence on primary mining, easing pressure on the supply chain and benefiting the environment. He also suggested a G20 open satellite data partnership, believing that space technology should benefit all humanity. This initiative aims to make satellite data and analysis from G20 countries more accessible and usable for countries in the Global South.
Modi also advocated for a global healthcare response team consisting of experts from G20 countries to ensure swift measures in case of health emergencies and natural disasters. He highlighted India's readiness to provide skill development to one million people across Africa through a G20-Africa Skills Multiplier Initiative.
