As G20 negotiators led by Indian Sherpa Amitabh Kant continued discussions on the draft “Leader’s Declaration” for the Summit in September, the government is staking much of its resources on ensuring the membership of the African Union (AU) in the G20. India has inserted the AU membership proposal in its revised draft that is being reviewed by all member countries during the 3-day (July 13-15) meet in rain-soaked Hampi, while finalizing the language on other India-imprint additions on gender-led development, digital public infrastructure and green hydrogen transitions. India’s push to expanding the imprint of the Global South in the G20 body is also a way of diverting attention and energies from the global polarization over the war in Ukraine, that is holding up a joint statement at all India-led G20 events.
According to officials and diplomats present at the meetings thus far, the row over the two paragraphs from the Bali G20 statement on Ukraine has erupted at ministerial meetings on education, research, agriculture, tourism and even the recently concluded “Urban 20” of mayors and city administrators. With just two months remaining for the Summit, few are holding out much hope for a joint communique coming together, which would be unprecedented in the G20’s summit history since 2008, that have all resulted in a Leader’s Declaration or Communique.. While Russia and China have disassociated themselves from the language agreed to in Bali, that states the national positions of various countries, they now refuse to support any reference to the war in Ukraine in a G20 document meant for economic and development issues. Meanwhile the G-7 countries are adamant that the Russian war in Ukraine must be included as it is affecting the global economy including energy prices, food security etc. G-7 countries are also not keen for economic sanctions imposed by the west to be included in the document. Official
In contrast, say a number of officials, there is “much support” for the Indian proposal on the AU going ahead. To begin with, the G20 hosted by India represents the first time that developing countries form the troika (hosts for 2022-2023-2024) of Indonesia-India-Brazil, and India has championed the voice of the global south in its deliberations. Secondly, the G20 at present is seen as “over-representing” Europe, as a quarter of the grouping is made up by UK, France, Germany, Italy and the European Union (Spain is a permanent special invitee). While inducting the AU will not change the composition of the invitee list, as the AU joins the G20 as a special invitee every year, it will bring in a large chunk of the global population currently being kept “out of the tent”.
