**New Delhi (AP)** — In a landmark move, the Group of 20 (G20) top world economies welcomed the African Union (AU) as a member, signaling Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to giving a greater voice to the Global South as the host of this year’s annual summit. The announcement of the AU’s membership was made by Modi during his opening speech at the G20 summit. The decision received widespread support and makes the AU the second regional bloc to become a permanent member, following the European Union (EU).
Modi emphasized the importance of finding concrete solutions to global challenges during his speech, including issues such as the north-south divide, east-west discrepancies, terrorism, cybersecurity, and water security. He underscored the need for trust-building measures and overcoming the trust deficit that has been exacerbated by the ongoing war in Ukraine. However, Modi refrained from mentioning specific countries involved in the conflict.
The G20 summit witnessed the absence of key players, with the leaders of Russia and China choosing not to attend. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Mexico’s president also canceled their attendance. These absences, along with growing global rifts, threatened to impede reaching a consensus on crucial issues.
Despite the challenges, the G20 leaders welcomed the addition of the AU, reaffirming their commitment to addressing the needs of developing nations. The summit agenda focused on critical topics such as alternative fuels, resource efficiency, food security, and developing a common framework for digital public infrastructure. Additionally, discussions on reforming development banks like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund aimed to make funds more accessible for lower- and middle-income countries, especially in combating climate change.
Climate action and financing emerged as key priorities for India and other developing and emerging markets at the summit. Indian lead G20 negotiator, Amitabh Kant, emphasized the need for long-term financing, highlighting the importance of sustainable development goals.
While the war in Ukraine remained a significant concern, leaders aimed to address a wide range of issues and not allow international disunity to overshadow discussions. Human Rights Watch urged the G20 leaders to openly discuss challenges related to gender discrimination, racism, and other barriers to equality, including those faced by host country India.
Ahead of the summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that a landmark grain export deal with Ukraine would not be restored until his demands regarding Russia’s own agricultural exports were met. Despite the tensions, leaders expressed hope for finding solutions and focused on countering the impact of Russia’s actions on the global food supply.
The summit was marked by several notable interactions. Modi met with U.S. President Joe Biden before the meeting began, and there was a palpable warmth and confidence between the two leaders, according to White House aide Kurt Campbell. The leaders of the U.S., India, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates were working on finalizing a joint infrastructure deal involving ship and rail transit between India, the Middle East, Turkey, and beyond. This initiative could have far-reaching implications and is strongly supported by India.
As the G20 summit progressed, hundreds of Tibetan exiles held a protest demanding a discussion on Sino-Tibetan relations and condemning Chinese participation in the event.
In summary, the inclusion of the AU as a member of the G20 marked a significant step towards giving a greater voice to the Global South. Despite notable absences, the summit aimed to address crucial global challenges and foster cooperation among nations to find concrete solutions.
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
