Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged G20 foreign ministers to overcome their divisions and focus on the needs of the developing world.
“We are meeting at a time of deep global division. We have a responsibility to those who are not in this room,” he told ministers in Delhi.
India wants to use its G20 presidency to raise the issues of developing countries known as the Global South.
But divisions within the group over the Ukraine war will test Indian diplomacy.
Last week, G20 finance ministers failed to reach a consensus on their concluding statement at the first ministerial meeting during the summit later this year in the city of Bangalore (Bangalore).
It was left to India to issue a chair’s summary listing “various assessments of the situation” in Ukraine within the group. Similar disruptions are likely in foreign ministers’ talks on Thursday.
It was clear from Mr. Modi’s speech on Thursday that India wants to make deals that can help the developing world and fuel its global ambitions.
“After years of progress, we are today in danger of falling back on the Sustainable Development Goals. Many developing countries struggle with unsustainable debt while trying to ensure food and energy security,” he said. have been.”
“They are also the worst affected by global warming because of rich countries. That is why India’s G20 presidency has sought to give voice to the Global South.”
Mr Modi gave a rare address in English to foreign ministers gathered in Delhi, a sign of how seriously he wants to take his message.
He made no direct reference to the war in Ukraine but acknowledged that the talks would be influenced by geopolitical tensions.
India’s motto for the G20 is “One Land, One Family, One Future”. Mr. Modi asked the delegates to take it to heart and focus on the issues that unite them. Today’s schedule includes sessions on food security, development cooperation, terrorism and humanitarian assistance – a reflection of India’s priorities during its presidency of the G20.
India will hope to mediate what is likely to be a fractious meeting and make some progress towards consensus on less politically contentious issues.
But with press conferences expected from Russia and the US after the meeting, it is likely that the split will leave a lasting impression on Ukraine.
The G20, which includes the world’s 19 richest countries and the European Union, accounts for 85% of global economic output and two-thirds of its population.
Foreign ministers including Russia’s Sergei Lavrov, America’s Antony Blanken and China’s Qin Gang are in Delhi for a meeting. A former Indian diplomat told JEE News that India would have to do “something special” to ignore its differences over the war.
Experts say Delhi will also have the delicate task of maintaining its policy of non-alignment on war while urging other nations to find ways to work together.
