The upcoming G-20 Summit in New Delhi, scheduled for next month, is going to focus on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine among other top topics. A senior US official mentioned that the war in Ukraine is an important topic in conversations with allies worldwide. The State Department Spokesperson, Matthew Miller, told reporters at his daily news conference on Tuesday, “In all of our conversations with allies and partners around the world, we continue to discuss the war in Ukraine. It is always one of the top topics that come up in all of our conversations, and I have no doubt that’ll be true at the G20.”
Months before this, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also shared his perspective on the Russia-Ukraine war. In an interview ahead of his France tour in July, with Les Echos, a French financial newspaper, he talked about India’s clear stance on the matter, supporting peaceful resolutions through dialogue. Modi talked about the potential effects of the war on different parts of the world, like energy shortages, economic issues, and inflation. He said, “India’s stand has been clear, transparent and consistent. I have said that it is not an era of war. We have urged both sides to resolve issues through dialogue and diplomacy. I told them that India is ready to support all genuine efforts that can help bring this conflict to an end.”
In terms of India’s role, Modi emphasised the need for collective strength and leadership from the Global South. Modi said, “What we need is collective strength and collective leadership for the entire Global South, so that its voice can become more strong and the whole community can take leadership for itself.” In January 2023, Prime Minister Modi explained the concept of Global South. He said, “In speaking for the Global South, we are not seeking to position ourselves in any adversarial relationship with the North, so to speak. In fact, this is to advance the vision of One World, One Future. The other alternative is a world that is adrift, that becomes more fragmented, a world of the West vs the Rest, a world in which we yield space to those who do not share our worldview and who seek to establish an alternative order.”
G-20 Summit
The G-20 or Group of 20 is an intergovernmental forum of major developed and developing economies, including countries like the US, India, and others. The members represent around 85 per cent of the global GDP, over 75 per cent of the global trade and about two-thirds of the world population. The grouping comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, United Kingdom and United States) and the European Union.
The upcoming summit in New Delhi has the potential to address important global issues, and the conflict in Ukraine occupies a high position on the list. The goal is to find peaceful solutions that can benefit everyone involved and work toward a more peaceful future. This conflict started on February 24, 2022, causing problems across the globe, including economic challenges and hardships for people. The war it has led to a spike in commodity and energy prices, which exacerbated food shortages and stoked inflation across the world.
Leaders of G-20 nations, including US President Joe Biden, are scheduled to attend the G-20 summit hosted by India in New Delhi from September 9 to 10.