Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Nov 23: The G20 Summit hosted in South Africa witnessed a strong intervention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, even as US President Donald Trump boycotted the event. With Trump absent, many anticipated that Chinese President Xi Jinping would dominate the platform. However, India effectively shifted the spotlight by raising the urgent global threat of drug trafficking, including the increasingly controversial synthetic drug fentanyl.
For years, New Delhi has accused Pakistan of pushing narcotics into India, particularly across the Punjab border. The BSF and Punjab Police frequently recover drones believed to be sent from across the border to smuggle drugs and weapons. In this context, India’s message at the global stage against “drug-terrorism” has drawn significant attention.
PM Modi also made a pointed reference to fentanyl — a powerful synthetic opioid nearly 40 times stronger than heroin. Fentanyl has repeatedly dominated headlines in the US, especially since Trump returned to office for his second term. Trump has long accused China of allowing fentanyl to enter American markets, even linking recent tariff disputes to the issue. Modi’s mention of fentanyl, without naming any country, has triggered speculation about whether the remark also served as an indirect signal to Beijing.
Trump skipped the two-day G20 Summit that began Saturday in Johannesburg, reportedly due to his dissatisfaction with recent decisions by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. In his absence, Prime Minister Modi called on the international community to unite against drug-terror. Posting the essence of his inaugural speech on social media, the PM said India had urged G20 nations to work together to curb drug trafficking, stop the spread of dangerous substances like fentanyl, and dismantle the global narcotics economy.
This is the first time the G20 Summit is being hosted on African soil. Along with raising concerns on narcotics, PM Modi proposed the creation of a G20 Knowledge Repository to help member nations exchange traditional wisdom and best practices. He also emphasised deepening Africa’s inclusion in global decision-making. During India’s presidency from December 2020 to November 2023, the African Union was admitted as a permanent G20 member — a milestone highlighted by Modi.
To strengthen global disaster preparedness, the Prime Minister further proposed the formation of a G20 Healthcare Response Team comprising experts from member nations, who can be deployed rapidly during health emergencies or natural disasters anywhere in the world.