"G20 Summit 2023: India Secures Diplomatic Triumph with the Delhi Declaration"

 

"G20 Summit 2023: India Achieves Diplomatic Success Amidst Russia-Ukraine Tensions"

Despite deep divisions stemming from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, the G20 Summit in New Delhi witnessed a remarkable consensus and the emergence of a comprehensive economic roadmap. India secured a major diplomatic victory by brokering the "New Delhi Leaders' Summit Declaration" with unanimous agreement on all developmental and geopolitical issues, even in the face of discord over the Russia-Ukraine war.

                             

                                     https://youtu.be/07ihQbI1B_M?si=W5Vivos721E6hQeK

Among the significant outcomes were the inclusion of the African Union as a full member of the G20, the launch of a global biofuel alliance with India, the United States, and Brazil as founding members, and the announcement of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, promising to expedite trade between India and Europe by up to 40%.

The declaration was the result of extensive negotiations led by Indian representatives, who worked tirelessly to bridge the gap between the Western bloc and the Chinese and Russian factions. Additionally, bilateral meetings between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other world leaders, such as US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, held on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, played a pivotal role in fostering consensus.

U.S. President Joe Biden, left, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, center, and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva hold hands as they attend the launch of the Global Biofuels Alliance at the G20 summit in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

India celebrated the Joint Declaration as a significant achievement. Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar highlighted its focus on accelerating progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and its action plan, which includes a green development pact for a sustainable future. It also endorses high-level principles for sustainable development, voluntary guidelines for hydrogen, the Chennai principles for a resilient blue economy, and the Deccan principles for food security and nutrition, among others.

On the financial front, the declaration supports the Financial Stability Board's (FSB) recommendations for cryptocurrency regulation, a capital adequacy framework for multilateral development banks, early debt resolution for Sri Lanka, and improved utilization of digital public infrastructure.

Notably, Indian negotiators achieved a delicate balance by persuading Russia and China to support the declaration without directly referencing Russia in criticism of the war in Ukraine. Instead, the declaration reiterated national positions and resolutions adopted at the United Nations, emphasizing that all states must act in accordance with the UN Charter's principles and refrain from using force to acquire territory. The use or threat of nuclear weapons was also strongly condemned.

However, differences among G20 members regarding the war in Ukraine were evident in the paragraph addressing the "human sufferings and negative added impacts of the war in Ukraine with regard to global food and energy security." The declaration noted that there were varying views and assessments on the matter, reflecting the polarizing nature of the issue. When asked about this, Jaishankar acknowledged the diversity of opinions and stated that the declaration aimed to accurately represent the discussions held during the summit.

Here are some of the defining moments of day-1 of the G20 Summit.

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Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman with Finance Ministers of G20 nations and heads of International Organisations during a dinner ahead of the G20 Summit, in New Delhi

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President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcome Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida upon his arrival at the Bharat Mandapam for the Gala Dinner during the G20 Summit, in New Delhi, Saturday.

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President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcome International Monetary Fund (IMF) MD Kristalina Georgieva upon her arrival at the Bharat Mandapam for the Gala Dinner during the G20 Summit, in New Delhi.

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, shares a light moment with African Union Chairman and President of the Union of the Comoros Azali Assoumani upon his arrival at Bharat Mandapam convention centre for the G20 Summit in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

Photo: EVELYN HOCKSTEIN

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, U.S. President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva attend the launch of the Global Biofuels Alliance at the G20 summit in New Delhi.

An inside view of Bharat Mandapam, venue of the G20 Summit, in the Capital on Saturday.