G20 Summit in New Delhi: Key Highlights and Surprising Consensus
Introduction
The G20 summit in New Delhi concluded on a surprising note, as India handed over the bloc presidency to Brazil. Despite pre-summit tensions, the United States and Russia both commended the summit's consensus, which notably avoided condemning Moscow for its involvement in the Ukraine conflict but emphasized the humanitarian toll of the war and urged member states to refrain from using force. In this article, we delve into the key highlights of the G20 summit and the unexpected consensus that emerged.
Leaders' Virtual Meeting in November
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as the host of the summit, proposed that the G20 leaders convene for a virtual meeting in November to assess the progress made on the policy recommendations and objectives outlined during the weekend's discussions. Modi stressed the importance of expediting progress on these fronts, highlighting the responsibility of the member states in this regard.
Leaders' Declaration: Avoiding Condemnation
One of the defining moments of the summit was the adoption of the Leaders' Declaration on Saturday. Notably, the declaration refrained from explicitly condemning Russia for its role in the Ukraine conflict. Instead, it underscored the immense human suffering caused by the war and called on all nations to abstain from employing force to annex territories. This consensus came as a surprise, given the divergent views on the conflict in the lead-up to the summit.
Role of the Global South
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who led the Russian delegation, lauded the summit's success for both India and the Global South, referring to the developing countries around the world. He emphasized that the participation of the Global South had prevented the G20's agenda from being overshadowed by the Ukraine issue, highlighting India's role in consolidating G20 members from this region.
Global Response to the Declaration
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan expressed support for the summit declaration, commending its stance on the principle that states should not employ force to pursue territorial acquisition or violate the territorial integrity, sovereignty, or political independence of other states. Germany and Britain also welcomed the resolution. However, Ukraine expressed disappointment, stating that there was nothing to be proud of in the declaration.
Admission of the African Union
Another significant development was the admission of the African Union, consisting of 55 member states, as a permanent member of the G20. This move underlined the G20's commitment to representing the interests of the Global South on the global stage.
Russia's Black Sea Deal
Minister Lavrov announced that Russia would consider returning to the Black Sea deal, which allows Ukraine to export grain, if its demands were met. Russia had withdrawn from the agreement in July, citing Ukraine's failure to implement a parallel agreement easing rules for Russian food and fertilizer exports. The summit document had called for the safe flow of grain, food, and fertilizer from both Ukraine and Russia.
Leaders Pay Tribute to Mahatma Gandhi
On Sunday, several world leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, visited the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi, a revered figure in India's struggle for independence. Most leaders paid their respects by walking barefoot to the site where Gandhi was cremated following his assassination in 1948.
Biden's Departure and Missing Talks
President Biden left for Vietnam before the final session of the summit, and the White House confirmed that there were no scheduled talks between Biden, Minister Lavrov, or Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who led their respective delegations at the summit. Notably, both Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin were absent from the summit.
Challenges and Negotiations
Svetlana Lukash, the Russian G20 government negotiator, described this summit as one of the most challenging in the forum's almost twenty-year history. She noted that it took nearly 20 days to reach an agreement on the declaration before the summit and an additional five days of negotiations during the summit itself. Disagreements over the Ukraine issue and differences in positions on key topics such as climate change and transitioning to low-carbon energy systems were among the major hurdles.
An unnamed European Union official highlighted that the Ukraine conflict was the most contentious issue during the negotiations. The official credited India's leadership and the crucial roles played by Brazil and South Africa in bridging differences and facilitating consensus.
Conclusion
The G20 summit in New Delhi showcased the significance of diplomatic negotiations and consensus-building on the global stage. Despite initial discord on the Ukraine issue, the summit concluded with a surprising consensus in the Leaders' Declaration. India's leadership and the inclusion of the Global South were pivotal in achieving this outcome. As the G20 continues to address complex global challenges, the summit serves as a testament to the power of diplomacy and cooperation in a rapidly evolving world.