There was considerable doubt whether the world leaders in the Group of 20 meeting would be able to reach an agreement during the G20 Summit being held in New Delhi under India’s presidency. The Ukraine war was the major divisive issue. The fact that on Day 1 of the G20 Summit, the Delhi Declaration was adopted with “100 per cent consensus on all developmental and geo-politcal issues” is testimony to India’s leadership.
There appears to be a remarkable toning down in the language used for the Russia-Ukraine war in the declaration endorsed by the G20 world leaders. From condemnation of war in Ukraine in the G20 Bali Declaration to the call for “just, durable” peace in Ukraine in Delhi Declaration, the language of the bloc’s statement seems to reflect the softening of the group’s position.
A comparison of the G20 declarations adopted in Bali in 2022 and in New Delhi in 2023 paints a clearer picture.
G20 DELHI DECLARATION
The G20 negotiators have been working tirelessly to arrive at an agreement on the Ukraine issue. The West has time and again called for unanimous condemnation of Russia and President Vladimir Putin over causing deaths and destruction in its neighbouring nation. They have also urged India to denounce Russian aggression and take a tougher stance over the war in Ukraine.
It was amid these conflicts that the G20 leaders converged at the national capital for a two-day G20 Summit and adopted the Delhi Declaration on Day 1.
The Delhi Declaration said that the “use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible.”
“In line with the UN Charter, all states must refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state,” the Delhi Declaration said on war in Ukraine.
The resolution noted the impact of the war in Ukraine with regard to global food and energy security, supply chains, macro-financial stability, inflation and growth. The issues have adversely impacted the developing and least developed nations.
The declaration adopted under India’s presidency called for “all states to uphold the principles of international law including territorial integrity and sovereignty, international humanitarian law, and the multilateral system that safeguards peace and stability.”
It supported a “comprehensive, just, and durable peace” in Ukraine and advocated conflict resolution through diplomacy and dialogue.
The Delhi Declaration emphasised that “Today’s era must not be of war”.
With this, it appears that the G20 delegates had reached a compromise on the language of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
G20 BALI DECLARATION
The G20 leaders met for the annual summit at Bali, Indonesia, in November 2022.
The bloc, which had met over eight months after war broke out in Ukraine, in a statement said it “deplores in the strongest terms the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine” and demanded Moscow’s “complete and unconditional withdrawal” from Kyiv.
Notably, the Bali statement mentioned that “most members” had strongly condemned the war in Ukraine and acknowledged that there were “other views and different assessments of the situation and sanctions.”
“Many members agreed that the recovery of the global economy has slowed and is facing a major setback as a result of Russiaôs war against Ukraine, which was strongly condemned, and called for an end to the war. One member expressed the view that the sanctions are adding to existing challenges,” the statement had mentioned.
WHAT HAS CHANGED SINCE BALI DECLARATION?
The Delhi Declaration is being seen as climbed down by the West, which has previously called for strong condemnation of Russia over the war in Ukraine.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the situation was different a year ago and the New Delhi Declaration “responds to the situation and concerns as it is today”.
“With regard to the comparison with the Bali Declaration, I would only say Bali was Bali and New Delhi is New Delhi. I mean, Bali was a year ago. The situation was different. Many things have happened since then. If you see in geo-political segment of the leader’s declaration, there are, in totality eight paragraphs, seven of which actually focus on the Ukraine issue,” EAM S Jaishankar said.
He added, “I think the New Delhi Declaration responds to the situation and concerns as it is today, just as the Bali Declaration did in a situation which was there.”
EAM S Jaishankar said Russia’s ally China was supportive of the outcome. “Differing viewpoints and interests were at play, but we were able to find common ground on all issues,” Jaishankar said.
India’s G20 sherpa Amitabh Kant said the host nation worked “very closely” with Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia to reach a consensus on the language on the war in Ukraine in the summit document.
In an interview with India Today, Amitabh Kant said, “It’s been very difficult but we managed to get everyone around and it demonstrates India’s great leadership in bringing the developed world together…to arrive at consensus on 83 different paras, including the 8 paras on geo-political crisis.”
“The Russia-Ukraine crisis was a real challenge because Bali paras had failed (as no agreement was reached on a joint communique). We have been struggling for the last month. The PM’s direction was very clear- This has to be a consensus, we do not want a footnote, we do not want a chair summary. It had to be 100 per cent consensus,” Amitabh Kant said.
He said that with the consensus reached on Delhi Declaration, something “truly unique” has been achieved. “It is the voice of emerging markets speaking out,” Amitabh Kant said.
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the Delhi Declaration demonstrated a clear position on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by saying that the territorial integrity of countries cannot be called into question with violence.
“It is important that words were found to make clear that the territorial integrity of a state like Ukraine cannot be called into question with violence,” Scholz was quoted as saying by Reuters.