G-20 SUMMIT SEP 2023: PROGRESS AND THE CHALLENGES

The 18th G-20 ‘Heads of State and Government Summit’ will be held from Sep 9 to 10 in New Delhi and it will be a culmination of all G-20 processes and meetings held throughout the year among ministers, senior officials, and civil societies. It’s been a norm so far that a G-20 Leaders’ Declaration is adopted at the conclusion of the Summit, stating Leaders’ commitment towards the priorities discussed and agreed upon during the respective ministerial and working group meetings. So far almost 150 meetings have taken place at over 40 locations in India and the indicators are that preparations and progress on various issues encompassing both substantive and logistical aspect for the forthcoming Summit 2023 are in right direction. Major efforts by the Sherpas (G-20), Foreign, Economic, Information and Broadcasting and IT departments under their secretaries and Ministers have worked hard to make the Summit historical. Indian presidency’s priorities including green development, accelerating sustainable development goals (SDGs), strong sustainable balanced and inclusive growth, digital public infrastructure, gender equality and reform of multilateral institutions have been recognised by all other members and is going to have huge positive impact. India’s G-20 Presidency emphasizes on manifesting the true spirit of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, or ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’ and ‘World is One Family’. Arrangements for hosting of event seems to moving on track and adequate arrangements are being made to facilitate both foreign and domestic participants including media.

Most meetings including that of Finance and Foreign ministers and Sherpas have been held in a very conducive environment and ended in agreement on most issues but failed to fully agree on joint statements as Ukraine conflict remains a point of disagreement. The final meeting of climate and environment ministers from world’s largest economies ended without an agreement or joint statement despite pleas from leading figures show a united front on climate change as weather records shatter globally. Similarly, meeting of energy ministers in Goa last week ended unsuccessfully with final summary failing to mention a phase down of fossil fuels and ministers did not agree to raise ambition to treble renewable energy targets.

As India-US relations are set to grow, the shadow of China will loom large over India, from the border conflict to the Indian neighbourhood where the two countries are battling for dominance and this does have impact on Indian efforts to smooth culmination of G- 20 Summit 2023. India was in a precarious situation when China and Saudi Arabia boycotted a tourism meeting staged in Kashmir siting it as a disputed territory. Finally, India stood its ground and all G- 20 members less China attended the successful tourism conclave in Srinagar.

The India’s priority sectors where focussed discussions have taken place and lots of ground has been covered so far amongst G-20 members to reach consensus and are likely to be part of joint communique of Summit 2023 are:- Green Development, Climate Finance & LiFE, Accelerated, Inclusive & Resilient Growth, Accelerating progress on SDGs, Technological Transformation & Digital Public Infrastructure, Multilateral Institutions for 21st century, Women-led development and it’s likely that African Union’s inclusion in G-20 may happen, giving it voting rights.

Since its inception in 1999, and upgradation to a leader’s level summit in 2008, the G-20 grouping of world’s biggest economies has always managed to find a consensus within the countries and issue a joint declaration at the end of every summit. In 2022, Indonesian G-20 presidency managed to issue a document but faced tense moments as declaration was not negotiated until the very last moment of the summit. During its tenure as President, India wishes for best possible outcome at G-20 summit, and hence its negotiators on “Sherpa track”, who collate the final document, are putting sustained efforts into ensuring a resolution to logjam over Ukraine. As most nations have strongly condemned the Russian aggression and demanded immediate withdrawal, China and Russia with few others have objected to inclusion of Russia- Ukraine conflict in any of G-20 proceedings stating resolving security issues is beyond scope of G- 20 being an economic forum. Indian view is that the peaceful resolution of conflicts, efforts to address crises, as well as diplomacy and dialogue, are vital. Today’s era must not be of war.

THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE AUTHOR ARE PERSONAL

Col Rajesh Bhukar The writer is a Post Graduate in International Studies, Alumni of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and College of Combat, Mhow