The theme of the 18th G20 Summit, hosted by India, was One Earth, One Family, One Future, but the conference began with a dry land of friendship, a conflict-ridden family environment and a future of worries. At the G20 summit held in Bali in 2022, the issue of Russia-Ukraine war led to conflict among the member states. Not even a joint declaration on the issue of war could be issued as the Western countries, including the United States and France, were positioned on one side and groups sympathetic to the Russia-China alliance on the other. It is in a complex situation where countries are taking sides over the war that India will be chairing the G20 and will be meeting at the Bharat Mandapam in Pragati Medan. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping announced they would not attend the summit, raising concerns about its effectiveness. Putin did not attend the meeting because of the pending arrest warrant of the International Court of Justice in connection with the war in Ukraine. Xi Jinping also did not attend because he is convinced that this is the worst possible situation for China’s relations with India as it continues its art programs of seemingly redrawing the border map and repeats its invasions into India’s borders. Chinese Prime Minister Li Chiang and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov represented their countries instead.
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Doubts about the effectiveness of the summit were raised when the countries including the United States stood on one side and the alliance including Russia and China on the other side because of the document distributed to the member states before the summit on the Ukraine issue. However, the member states that were divided over the war eventually reached a consensus and made a joint declaration possible at the summit. Of the 83-paragraph Delhi Declaration document, eight paragraphs deal with global politics, including the war in Ukraine. “The principles and objectives set forth in the UN Charter must be fully accepted by all. Abstain from invading a country’s territory, acting against its territorial integrity or using military force. The use and threat of nuclear weapons cannot be accepted” – the Delhi Declaration is the Kekonda’s approach to the issue of war. But what justice is there in the Delhi declaration which does not criticize Russia or Ukraine by name and what kind of soft approach is there to those who are responsible for it when thousands of lives are lost. The response of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine was that there is nothing to be proud of in the Delhi Consensus Declaration and the coals are rising. Russia responded that it praised India’s stance of not politicizing the G20, that the summit’s agenda was not overshadowed by the Ukraine issue, and that the summit was able to provide guidance on global governance and financial issues. The diplomacy of the Consensus Declaration is actually due to cheap fuel from Russia and India’s concern over Russia-China relations. The former Prime Minister said that this position of India is correct in the current situation. Manmohan Singh and former Minister of State for External Affairs and UN diplomat Shashi Tharoor have also commented.
Also read; G20 summit report
After the conference, the ruling party claimed that the G20 summit was a huge success and that the image of the country and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had risen to the sky. Beyond the colors of the flagpoles, there are still lingering realities that India needs to address domestically. With 230 million poor people, India is the poorest country in the world. India ranks 107 out of 123 on the Global Hunger Index. India has the lowest per capita income among the G20 countries that met in Delhi. Apart from this, there are ongoing riots and unrest in states like Manipur. The government is unable to find any creative solutions to this. Diplomats point out that the G20 summit has resulted in gains internationally. The India-Central Asia-Europe Economic Corridor is considered to be a pathway to strengthen economic-political ties between partner countries. China’s dream Belt and Road Corridor is under the shadow of doubts and crisis. Italy is withdrawing from this plan. On this occasion, it is concluded that with the realization of the India-Central Asia-Europe Economic Corridor with the participation of the United States, France, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Germany, European Union and Israel, India’s trade will be 40 percent faster.
Policy experts say that the inclusion of the African Union in the G20 group is an advantage for India. More funding for climate protection, tripling the level of renewable fuels by 2030 and bringing in fossil subsidies will benefit developing nations like India. It is expected that the announcements such as reforming international financial institutions, solving the debt burden of small and medium-income countries, exchanging tax information related to crypto-currency among member countries, and central banks continuing to achieve price stability goals, will bring a wake-up call to the economy.
Summits always aim and emphasize global diplomacy. Formulating policies for global partnerships should derive from a country’s strong domestic political capacity, democratic tradition and trust. The unilateralism of the ruling party should not prevail in foreign policies.
President Draupadi Murmu invited Cabinet Ministers, State Ministers and Chief Ministers to the dinner hosted by the summit, but did not invite Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharga, who holds cabinet status, which is not a democratic etiquette. Respect for the opposition is a habit and quality that starts in the family itself.
It is estimated that the G20 summit cost the country Rs 4254.75 crore. The money has to be spent on 12 items like construction of new halls and statues, preparation of garden, cleaning of roads and surroundings. Most of the money was spent on security. To hide the hunger and poverty of the country, demolishing houses in the slums, evacuating them, walling up the starving people and keeping them away from the people, and filling the streets with graveyards, etc., may have wasted no small amount of money. While the G20 is hailed as a country’s diplomatic success, let policies also be formulated to eradicate hunger and poverty, which are staring hopelessly. Then the renamed India will literally become the mother of democracy.
The handle of the ax used for cutting wood is also made of wood.
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2023-09-20 22:52:00
