NEW DELHI (AP) — G20 leaders paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, the Indian independence leader, at a memorial site on Sunday. This came after the forum welcomed a new member and made agreements on various issues, while also softening their language on Russia’s war in Ukraine [source].
India, the host of this year’s Group of 20 summit, achieved diplomatic victories on the first day of the conference. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the addition of the African Union as a member, furthering his goal of empowering the Global South [source].
Later, India successfully garnered the group’s agreement on the final statement, although it required toning down the language regarding Russia’s conflict in Ukraine [source].
In a symbolic gesture, G20 leaders, including Justin Trudeau, Anthony Albanese, and Fumio Kishida, joined Modi at the Rajghat memorial site in New Delhi. They were presented with shawls made of khadi, a fabric promoted by Gandhi during India’s struggle for independence from British rule.
Before the summit, India faced challenges in reaching a consensus on the wording regarding Ukraine, with objections from Russia and China, even after they had agreed to it at the previous G20 summit in Bali [source].
The final statement released by the G20 this year acknowledged the suffering caused by the conflict in Ukraine without explicitly mentioning Russia’s aggression. Instead, it emphasized the importance of refraining from the use of force to acquire territory and condemned the use or threat of nuclear weapons [source].
While Western leaders had hoped for a stronger condemnation of Russia, they still considered the consensus a success and commended India’s diplomatic efforts. The absence of a final communique would have dealt a blow to the prestige of the G20 summit.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized the significance of Russia’s agreement to the statement, which recognized the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Russian negotiator Svetlana Lukash described the discussions as challenging but praised the balanced view expressed in the agreed text [source].
