The two-day Group of 20 meeting in New Delhi ended today without a joint statement, because of dissension within the grouping that can be summarized as, ‘the G7 vs. the world.’ Delegations from 27 nations attended, as well as 40 delegations including other international associations and entities. Roughly put, the dividing line “issue” was over demands by various G7 nations, that Russia be denounced for its actions in Ukraine. India is this year’s chair of the G20, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an address to the group, appealing for all to appreciate their “common ground” and act accordingly, but that was not to be.
Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said today that the group adopted the Chair Summary and Outcome document. His comment, according to India’s News18: “Foreign Ministers of 27 countries have participated in the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting. The meeting was the biggest congregation of foreign ministers focused on what unites us, not divides.” He reported that the assembly noted that multilateralism is in crisis, and that all the member nations condemn terrorism.
The G20 Finance Ministers meeting last week in India, ended with the same kind of Chair Summary, instead of a joint communique, because of the non-agreement to the G7 demand that a denunciation of Russia must be included in any text.
European Union Foreign Affairs Secretary Josep Borrell went into the meeting demanding that, “this war has to be condemned…. I hope, I am sure that India’s diplomatic capacity will be used in order to make Russia understand that this war has to finish.” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, while in Tashkent prior to the meeting, that China, in particular, has to take a stand against Russia. China can no longer “be on both sides” of the issue of Ukraine. These views were echoed by the Netherlands’ Foreign Minister and in other G7 remarks during the meeting.
British Foreign Minister James Cleverly, after a diplomatic feint of saying there ‘was a lot in the Chinese’ peace proposal (Feb. 24, 12 points) that Britain could agree with, asserted nevertheless, that “the priority is to condemn Russia.”
Modi repeatedly stated that the G20 should focus on food, energy, and fertilizer security, and financial burdens, among other things, according to all media reports. Today’s agenda had two sessions, in line with that perspective. The first was focussed on debt relief, food, fertilizer, energy, health, and social conditions; the second on fighting terrorism, narcotics, and related mutual security topics.
