Yellen’s words on multilateralism hint of G20 trouble
India’s sherpa Amitabh Kant led the discussions of G20 negotiators in Hampi last week to produce a draft Leader’s Declaration for the upcoming G20 Leaders’ Summit in September. To be held in Pragati Maidan, the summit will be the grand finale of India’s Presidency. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expecting to host US President Joe Biden, and, it is being speculated, President Vladimir Putin, which, if it happens, would open up the possibility for the two sides to come face-to-face first time since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Ceasefire and peace are the ideal outcomes, of course. Putin’s attendance would be no less. In a less-than-ideal world, India would settle for a Leader’s Declaration, something every G20 summit has resulted in.
It would be unprecedented in the group’s history if none comes out of the New Delhi Summit. A challenge in getting everyone to agree is references to Ukraine. Russia and China, after disassociating from the language on Ukraine agreed to in Bali, want to block any reference to it.
The G20 grouping, they say, should remain focused on economic and development issues. Kant said in Hampi that Ukraine is not a priority for the outcomes that India is pressing for during its presidency, as the war is not a creation of developing or emerging countries. The official statement on progress over drafting the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration is silent on Ukraine.
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