New Delhi : As the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro approaches, India is confident that the Brazilian presidency will be able to secure a consensus leaders’ declaration, despite ongoing challenges related to the conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, in a media briefing on Wednesday, expressed optimism about the summit’s outcomes, emphasizing India’s participation in two of the three pillars of Brazil’s flagship initiative— a global alliance against hunger and poverty. The initiative will be launched during the summit’s inaugural session, scheduled for November 18-19.
Misri acknowledged the complexity of the current global geopolitical situation, noting that the conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia have added to the difficulties in reaching consensus. However, he expressed confidence that, despite these challenges, the leaders’ declaration would reflect a unified stance. “The declaration is being negotiated as we speak, and I’m sure we will be able to get a good declaration despite the complexity posed by these conflicts,” he said.
The process of negotiating the leaders’ declaration has been notably challenging, particularly in the aftermath of last year’s G20 Summit hosted by India, where deep divisions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine complicated discussions. In Rio, G20 sherpas have worked to remove geopolitical language from ministerial documents, opting for a chair’s summary to address such issues instead.
Misri emphasized that the leaders’ declaration at the summit will be a consolidated consensus document, without a separate chair’s summary. He also pointed out that the New Delhi declaration last year provided a valuable template for addressing difficult global issues.
In terms of Brazil’s global alliance against hunger and poverty, Misri noted that this initiative is open to non-G20 countries, multilateral organizations, and civil society groups. India will contribute to the national and knowledge pillars of the alliance.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a three-nation tour starting November 16, which will include his participation in the G20 Summit, as well as visits to Nigeria and Guyana. This tour will focus on strengthening bilateral ties with both nations. Modi’s visit to Guyana will be particularly historic, as it marks the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister since 1968.
During the G20 Summit, discussions will revolve around key issues such as sustainable development goals (SDGs), multilateral reforms, environmental challenges, debt sustainability, the global digital divide, energy transition, and emerging technologies. Misri highlighted that Brazil’s priorities align closely with those of India, particularly in areas like hunger and poverty, multilateral reforms, and enhancing the effectiveness of multilateral development banks.
Modi’s trip to Nigeria will include one-on-one talks with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and delegation-level discussions to review and expand bilateral cooperation. In Guyana, Modi will engage with President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, address the National Assembly, and connect with the Indian diaspora, which constitutes nearly 40% of the country’s population. Modi will also co-chair the second India-CARICOM Summit with Grenada’s Prime Minister, marking another significant milestone in India’s diplomatic efforts.
