Ahead of the 2025 G20 Summit, global leaders urge reform of multilateral institutions to include more Global South voices and address pressing issues like debt and energy transition.

Ahead of the 2025 G20 Summit in South Africa, officials and experts are calling for renewed global cooperation and reforms to multilateral institutions. South Africa’s Alvin Botes criticized Western nations for advancing narrow interests, urging a more equitable system grounded in international law. Calls are growing to reform the UN, World Bank, and IMF to better address debt, energy transition, and governance, with emphasis on including Global South voices. Experts warn that shifting political dynamics threaten multilateral progress, urging sustained engagement. South Africa reaffirmed its commitment to regional and global forums, including the African Union and BRICS, as it prepares to pass the G20 presidency to the U.S. and then the UK.