The G20 summit has been a resounding success for India
G20 summit was a blockbuster — no two ways about it. India managed to forge consensus, produce a clean communique, announce a mega connectivity project linking different worlds and welcome the African Union (AU) as a new member.
Broad message to those creating an alternate order: the wait time got longer. G20 as a group of both rich and developing countries, established and emerging markets, can work together when it wants to, and listen and learn when it wants to — especially when the wolf is at the door.
Hello Belt and Road, meet the India-West Asia-Europe corridor, even though it has been a little late in coming.
The summit was a diplomatic fair with flair. And it was cleverly choreographed — Joe Biden kept bumping into Sheikh Hasina, and Justin Trudeau was bereft of cameras and camaraderie. Some guests got the famous Narendra Modi hug, some only the correct greeting.
In sum, India proved it can be an East-West bridge, a North-South connector, but, above all, a problem-solver.
Interests of the 'global south' were upfront in every domain — from reforming multilateral banks and increasing their lending capacity, to making trade fairer, prioritising food security, dealing with climate change to debt restructuring. This, despite Chinese reps being obstructionist over the past 10 months, trying to diminish India's presidency. They skipped meetings because some venues didn't align with their 'maps'.
