The two-day G20 Summit ended in New Delhi on Sunday after the release of a joint declaration as usual and the handover of the term-linked presidency from India to Brazil, at the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Lula Da Silva. No earth-shaking decisions were expected nor were attempted at this time too. The over 10,000 word-strong declaration is full with the usual affirmations, re-affirmations, commitments, re-emphasizes and more, many of which might hopefully be pursued to their logical ends. The officials engaged in the drafting of such resolutions have a way with words and the end results might not always be as shining as one might expect. Yet, the assertions at such global jamborees might form the basis for the evolution of a better world. In this context, the announcement of a new economic corridor linking South Asia, the Middle East and Europe came as a pleasant surprise.
At the start of the meeting, all eyes were on what the grouping would say on the present escalated phase of Russia-Ukraine conflict from February last year. The 18-month-old war has seen the death of over 62,000 persons and displacement of over 1.7crore people. While the US and the European nations are strongly backing Ukraine, India avoided taking sides. India helped hammer out a ‘consensus’; meaning the matter was, at best, left to where it stood. The meeting “underscored” that all states must act in a manner consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN charter, refrain from threat or use or force to seek territorial acquisition, and emphasized that the “use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible.” The meeting “reaffirmed” that G20 is the premier forum for international economic cooperation and not a platform to resolve geopolitical and security issues. Notably, Russian president Vladimir Putin and Chinese president Xi Jinping stayed away from the meet and sent only their representatives to Delhi — Putin because of the Ukraine war and Xi due to China’s strained ties with the US and India on multiple fronts.
The plan for a new economic corridor, revealed on the first day of the meet, drew global attention, though the announcement was made on the sidelines of the G20 meet. An economic corridor between India and the Gulf region for smooth movement of goods and their transportation from the Gulf to Europe via rail, involves also the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, France, Germany, Italy and EU. This would link South Asia, the Middle East and Europe – and could be a counter to China’s Belt and Road initiative in which Pakistan is also closely involved. Xi’s absence at the meet is now better understood.
