Modi Calls For Rethink of Old Development Model

• By Thetripurapost Desk, Johannesburg
• Nov 22, 2025
• 546

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held meetings with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and other world leaders on Saturday during the G20 Summit in Johannesburg. Modi also warmly embraced Brazilian President Lula before delivering his address in the summit’s opening session.

In his speech, Modi presented India’s views on global challenges and called for a re-evaluation of traditional development approaches. He said the old development model had “siphoned resources” from poorer nations and needed to be reformed to reflect current realities.

Meanwhile, tensions surfaced over the upcoming G20 presidency. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa suggested that hosting duties for 2026 might have to be handed over to an “empty chair,” as the United States — the official host for 2026 — has not sent any representative to the summit. Former President Donald Trump, currently in office, has boycotted the G20 meeting and rejected the core summit agenda.

South Africa had urged G20 member nations to support developing countries in facing the climate crisis, transitioning to clean energy, and reducing debt burdens. However, according to Reuters, the US has refused to support these proposals.

Despite the absence of US participation, all remaining G20 nations unanimously approved the summit declaration drafted by South Africa. Ramaphosa stressed that reaching a joint statement was essential, even without American approval.

Reports indicate that Trump had proposed sending a US official to symbolically take over the 2026 hosting rights in the summit’s closing session, but South Africa declined the offer.