G20 Adopts New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration, Marking a Diplomatic Triumph for India

NEWS WAVE INDIA: In a significant victory for India’s G20 presidency, the adoption of the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration has come to fruition amid escalating tensions and differing perspectives on the Ukraine conflict. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the consensus on this declaration during the G20 summit, which witnessed the participation of key global leaders.

The announcement of the consensus and subsequent adoption of the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration followed India’s distribution of a revised text outlining the situation in Ukraine. Prime Minister Modi, addressing the summit attendees, expressed his gratitude for the collaborative efforts that led to this achievement. He emphasized the importance of the declaration by saying, “Friends, we have just received good news, with the dedicated work of our teams and the cooperation of you all, there is consensus on the New Delhi G20 Summit Leaders Declaration,” and punctuated it by banging the gavel thrice.

Notable leaders present at the G20 Leaders’ Summit included US President Joe Biden, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Notably, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping were absent from the summit, which was chaired by Prime Minister Modi.

Expressing his gratitude, Prime Minister Modi acknowledged the efforts of ministers, sherpas, and officials who worked diligently to achieve this consensus, praising their dedication.

India’s G20 Sherpa, Amitabh Kant, celebrated the breakthrough, characterizing it as a “Historical & Path-breaking #G20 Declaration with 100% consensus on all developmental and geo-political issues.” Kant stressed that the new geopolitical paragraphs in the declaration call for global unity in addressing planetary concerns, promoting the well-being of people, striving for peace, and fostering prosperity. He lauded Prime Minister Modi’s leadership in the contemporary world.

This achievement comes after challenges in achieving consensus on the text concerning the Ukraine conflict during the G20 Sherpa meeting in the Nuh district of Haryana, which took place from September 3-6. The G20 operates on the principle of consensus, and the shift in Russia and China’s stance on the Ukraine issue posed significant hurdles for India.

Both Russia and China had initially agreed to two paragraphs on the Ukraine conflict in the Bali declaration but reversed their positions this year, creating obstacles to reaching a consensus. Throughout India’s G20 presidency, key meetings, including those involving finance and foreign ministers, struggled to produce consensus documents due to opposition from Russia and China regarding any text referring to the Ukraine conflict.

The adoption of the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration stands as a testament to India’s diplomatic efforts and leadership in navigating complex global challenges, emphasizing the significance of diplomacy and consensus-building on the international stage.