Leaders of the G20 countries are flocking to New Delhi to participate in the G20 summit, while their host, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hopes to demonstrate his country’s growing diplomatic influence and facilitate dialogue on Ukraine, in the absence of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. In light of a UN warning that international divisions could cause a “disaster,” the leaders will discuss controversial issues, such as the Russian war on Ukraine and debt restructuring, at the two-day summit starting on Saturday.
India hopes for a final statement to be issued by the summit of the group, which consists of 19 countries and the European Union, which constitutes about 85 percent of the global gross domestic product and includes two-thirds of the world’s population, but deep differences over the Russian war in Ukraine and ways to help emerging countries confront climate change may… Obstructing reaching an agreement.
International warning
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned G20 leaders that the world faces risks of conflict as divisions between countries widen. Guterres said in New Delhi on the eve of the summit: “If we are truly one global family, today we are like a family that is unable to perform its function properly.” He added, “Divisions are increasing, tensions are flaring, trust is eroding, and all of this threatens fragmentation and eventual confrontation.”
The Secretary-General of the United Nations warned of the repercussions of international divisions (AFP)
The UN official continued: “Such a division would be very disturbing at the best of times, but in our time it portends a disaster.” Our world is going through a difficult moment of transition. The future is multipolar, but our multilateral institutions reflect a bygone era.” He added, “The global financial structure is outdated, dysfunctional, and unfair. “It requires deep structural reform, and we can say the same about the UN Security Council.” Chinese President Xi Jinping will be absent from the G20 meeting, at a time when trade and geopolitical tensions are escalating with the United States and India, which shares a long and disputed border with China. Diplomatic isolation also kept Russian President Vladimir Putin out of attendance, despite Moscow’s efforts to soften the blow of international condemnation of its war in Ukraine.
Leaders flocked
US President Joe Biden has arrived in New Delhi, where he is expected to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited the White House in June.
Biden arrived in New Delhi on Friday evening (AP)
The United States is seeking to strengthen its relations with India to confront China’s influence in Asia, despite their differences over Russia, as India did not join the countries that imposed sanctions on Moscow after the invasion of Ukraine.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, of Indian origins, also arrived in the Indian capital, accompanied by his wife Akshata Murty, the daughter of one of India’s richest people, and they visited students at the British Council in New Delhi.
Before meeting the world leaders of today I’ve been meeting with the world leaders of tomorrow.It’s been fantastic to visit students and staff here at @inBritish – a reflection of the living bridge that exists between the UK and India. pic.twitter.com/mYc2uZP7kc
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) September 8, 2023
Coinciding with the arrival of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who is leading his country’s delegation to the summit in place of President Putin, the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed working “closely with all G20 countries… to confront attempts to explain all the humanitarian and economic problems in the world exclusively through the conflict in Ukraine.
Sharp divisions
In the absence of the Russian and Chinese presidents, Biden seeks to exploit the summit chaired by Modi to reinforce the importance of the G20 as a major forum for global economic cooperation, despite its divisions. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said, during a press conference on the sidelines of the summit in India, that China faces “various economic problems,” but it also has “a certain margin of maneuver to deal with them.” She added: “We are aware of the risks that threaten global growth,” stressing that “the greatest negative impact comes from Russia’s war against Ukraine.” But she added that despite this, she was “surprised by the strength of global growth and the resilience shown by the global economy,” as quoted by Agence France-Presse.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov upon his arrival at his residence in New Delhi (Reuters)
Like last year’s summit in Bali, the G20 appears sharply divided over the Ukraine war, but India seeks to highlight the voices of developing countries that care more about grain prices than diplomatic condemnations of Moscow.
During the ministerial meetings that preceded the summit, Modi’s efforts to push G20 leaders to avoid their divisions to address crucial global issues, including global debt restructuring and rising commodity prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, failed. In this regard, European Council President Charles Michel told reporters in New Delhi, “It is shameful that Russia, after withdrawing from the Black Sea grain export initiative, attacked Ukrainian ports.”
Modi receives Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (AP)
After months of intense negotiations, India hopes that the countries participating in the summit will agree on a final version of the final statement by Sunday. In previous ministerial meetings, China and Russia disagreed on items related to the Ukraine war. Indian negotiator Amitabh Kant told reporters in New Delhi: “We are still working to reach a consensus.”
Expansion of the cluster
On the other hand, Modi’s call to expand the G20 “by including the African Union as a permanent member” was widely welcomed. Michel said: “I am pleased to welcome the African Union as a permanent member of the G20, and I am proud that the European Union reacted positively to support this nomination,” before adding: “Let us wait for the decision.” But one thing is clear: the European Union supports Africa’s membership in the G20.”
Part of the Egyptian President’s arrival in New Delhi to participate in the G20 Summit (EPA)
The Indian Prime Minister also called on the G20 leaders to help developing countries financially and technically to combat climate change.
Security fortifications
The Indian authorities transformed the center of New Delhi into a fortified fortress, in preparation for receiving participating delegations. Special forces and armored cars were deployed, while tens of thousands of security personnel participated in security operations, including snipers deployed on rooftops and anti-drone technology.
Security alert on the streets of New Delhi (AP)
During the past weeks, Indian guards in charge of combating terrorism, called the “Black Cats,” trained on rapid deployment operations from helicopters and landing using ropes on the roofs of hotels where leaders of countries stay. In an attempt to ease traffic congestion, orders were issued to close commercial establishments and the authorities declared a holiday, which led to the roads crowded with cars turning into quiet streets, in which not even the horns of rickshaws could be heard.
The Modi government designated the recently renovated Bharat Mandapam Convention Center as a hub for summit meetings. This large center overlooks a river near the towers of the sixteenth-century “Prorana Fort,” in addition to the “Raj Ghat” memorial, where Mahatma Gandhi’s body was cremated, and where the G20 leaders intend to plant trees.
In addition to security and logistical preparations, the Indian authorities launched a campaign to beautify the New Delhi area, which has a population of about 30 million since India assumed the presidency of the G20 last year. The authorities hope to change the reputation of the huge city known for its pollution and chaotic roads.
Traffic congestion decreased significantly between September 5 and 8 before the G20 summit was held in New Delhi (Reuters)
Municipal officials reported that more than 4,000 homeless people living under bridges and on street corners in the city center were transferred to “shelters” ahead of the summit, according to Agence France-Presse. A number of fountains that had been stopped for a long time were also restarted, while roadside signs were repainted after they had faded over the years.
Control of monkeys and mosquitoes
A team of more than 30 people was deployed to combat the monkeys and erected models of the monkeys to prevent them from eating the flowers that were placed to receive world leaders. Monkeys pose a major threat to the city, as they often destroy parks, offices and rooftops of residential buildings, and even attack people for food. The men imitate the sounds of the aggressive langur monkey, the natural enemy of the rhesus macaque, which wreaks havoc in the green government areas of the capital.
Monkeys in a parking lot in New Delhi (AFP)
New Delhi also has problems with dengue fever and malaria, diseases transmitted by mosquitoes. Therefore, eight teams are spraying pesticides at sites where mosquitoes are likely to breed around the summit site, according to what the Hindustan Times reported. An official told the newspaper that groups of mosquito fish, which feed on larvae, had been released ahead of the conference in about 180 lakes and fountains.
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2023-09-08 17:20:46
