PM Modi Calls for Unified Global Action on Fentanyl and Terror Financing at G20

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday opened the G20 Summit in Johannesburg—the first time the Bloc has convened on African soil—with a clarion call for Global Leaders to rethink development paradigms, urging a shift towards models that are inclusive, sustainable, and rooted in civilizational wisdom, particularly India's principle of Integral Humanism. Addressing the plenary session on 'Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth Leaving No One Behind,' Modi highlighted how historical frameworks have often marginalized vast populations in Africa and the Global South, proposing path-breaking initiatives to bridge these gaps and foster equitable progress by 2047.

Amid growing concerns over the worldwide surge in synthetic opioids, Modi spotlighted the "drug-terror nexus" as a profound threat to public health, social cohesion, and international security, warning that highly potent substances like fentanyl are eroding stability across borders. He proposed a dedicated G20 Initiative on Countering the Drug-Terror Nexus, which would integrate financial intelligence, governance reforms, and security protocols to dismantle trafficking syndicates, sever illicit money flows, and starve terrorist networks of their primary revenue streams—a challenge he emphasized demands unwavering collective resolve from member nations.

In parallel, Modi advocated for a G20 Global Healthcare Response Team comprising trained medical experts from across the bloc, deployable at short notice during health crises or natural disasters, underscoring the imperative of collaborative resilience in an interconnected world. He also called for establishing a Global Traditional Knowledge Repository to preserve and share eco-balanced, culturally rich practices from indigenous communities, and a G20-Africa Skill Multiplier program to empower youth through tailored skill-sharing and knowledge exchange, drawing on Africa's demographic dividend and India's digital expertise.

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The proposals, unveiled against the backdrop of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's hosting amid a U.S. boycott, align with the summit's broader declaration on multilateralism, climate action, debt relief, and critical minerals, positioning India as a bridge-builder for the Global South. Modi's interventions, echoed in his post-session X update, reflect New Delhi's push for a multipolar order where traditional wisdom complements modern innovation, setting the tone for deliberations on AI governance, critical supply chains, and peace initiatives as the summit progresses.

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