The meeting of G20 Foreign Ministers (a group of industrialized and developing nations) wrapped up in New Delhi with no consensus on the Ukraine war. The Russian aggression in Ukraine and Chinese escalating global supremacy dominated much of the talks. Soon after the meeting in New Delhi, Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar said there were divergences on the issue of war in Ukraine which we could not reconcile as various parties held differing views. In a nod to fears that the increasingly rift between US and its allies on one side and Russia and China on other appears likely to widen further, PM Modi contended that multilateralism is in crisis today.
India wants its G20 presidency this year to focus on issues like alleviating poverty and climate finance, but the Ukraine war and its effects are set to dominate the agenda. Last month, a meeting of G20 finance ministers in Bengaluru failed to agree on a common statement after Russia and China sought to water down language on the Ukraine war.
India has been positioning itself as a leading voice of developing countries known as Global South in recent years. India wants its G20 presidency this year to focus on issues like alleviating poverty and climate finance, but the Ukraine war and its effects are set to dominate the agenda.
India has been positioning itself as a leading voice of developing countries known as Global South in recent years. Now, as President of G20 block, Delhi could not have a bigger stage on which to deliver. Global 19 wealthiest nations plus EU account for 85% of global economic output and two-thirds of its population. But as its head of states meeting, to be held later this year in September, in Delhi, any broader agreements that India hopes to deliver will largely depend on the war in Ukraine.
Indian own position has come in for scrutiny and reproach too. It has refrained from directly criticizing Russia, with which it has long-standing ties, while increasing imports of Russian oil. New Delhi’s non-aligned approach initially did not please Western powers but an understanding seems to have evolved.
Indian own position has come in for scrutiny and reproach too. It has refrained from directly criticizing Russia, with which it has long-standing ties, while increasing imports of Russian oil. New Delhi’s non-aligned approach initially did not please Western powers but an understanding seems to have evolved.
The presence Chinese and Russian diplomats in G20 has been severely hurting Western intentions to pass joint statements against Russian aggressions in Ukraine. India will never follow Western model to condemn Russian aggressions. Indian own position has come in for scrutiny and reproach too. It has refrained from directly criticizing Russia, with which it has long-standing ties, while increasing imports of Russian oil. New Delhi’s non-aligned approach initially did not please Western powers but an understanding seems to have evolved. India may not have criticized Russia directly but it has talked about the importance of “the UN Charter, international law, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states” in its past statements on Ukraine.
India will come under pressure to harden its stand against Russia at the G20 talks. There are other points of divergence as well in G20. For instance, Indian ties with Beijing have been frosty due to tensions on their disputed border. The spy balloon controversy has further strained Sino-US ties and the relationship between West and Russia is as bad as ever. Meanwhile, India prides itself on its ability to balance rival relationships but given the extent and the scale of the bitterness and geopolitical tensions within this group, it will have to work harder.
India will come under pressure to harden its stand against Russia at the G20 talks. There are other points of divergence as well in G20. For instance, Indian ties with Beijing have been frosty due to tensions on their disputed border.
In domestic political environment of India, Modi government will also be under pressure to deliver results as it invested heavily in promoting a G20 summit taking place in India under Modi’s leadership. He will want to show he has been able to make Indian position stronger in the world, especially in the run-up to campaigning for next year’s general elections. Arguably India’s most celebrated event of the year, the G20 summit has been heavily promoted domestically, with sprawling billboards featuring Modi’s face plastered across the country. The domestic narrative in India is that the G20 summit is being used as a big banner in Modi’s election campaign to show he’s a global statesman.
India has strong ties with Moscow dating back to Cold War and New Delhi remains heavily reliant on Russia for military equipment. This is a vital link given India’s ongoing tensions at its shared Himalayan border with an increasingly assertive China. At the same time, New Delhi has been growing closer to West as leaders attempt to counter the rise of Beijing, placing India in a strategically comfortable position.
Unless and until Ukraine war doesn’t stop, the economic crisis cannot be managed. Russian withdrawal from Ukraine can give a hope to reshape the global world order. So the purpose of this meeting failed and it is a great diplomatic embarrassment for India. Similarly, with plummeting ties between Washington and Beijing after the US military shot down Chinese spy balloon that flew over American territory, India have to carefully drive difficult negotiations between conflicting viewpoints.
The leading international human rights watchdogs must take serious notice of the nationalist policies undertaken by Modi government in order to suppress dissident voices and target anti-government people.
Domestically, Modi’s Hindu-nationalist and populist politics have polarized the nation. While PM Modi remains immensely popular in a country where about 80% of population is Hindu, his government has been repeatedly criticized for a clampdown on free speech and discriminatory policies toward minority groups. The leading international human rights watchdogs must take serious notice of the nationalist policies undertaken by Modi government in order to suppress dissident voices and target anti-government people.