Priya Aditi
In September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a virtual leaders’ summit during the G20 summit in New Delhi.
Opinion leaders from the G20 will convene virtually in India on November 22 to discuss other global issues and follow up on crucial decisions made at the summit in September, particularly regarding the development agenda, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the proposition to convene the virtual leaders’ summit during the summit that took place in New Delhi on September 9-10, notwithstanding the absence of a definitive date at that moment.
Some member states are anticipated to bring up the Israel-Hamas conflict in addition to the Ukraine conflict, according to sources who requested anonymity. India, along with the other G20 members, has condemned the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas against Israel and demanded an end to hostilities. They added that the Indian side has also finalized an agenda that has been distributed to G20 members.
Although no outcome documents will be produced during the virtual summit, it is probable that the Indian side will release a press statement following the meeting. All subsequent discussions will take place in private settings after Modi’s opening remarks on television.
It has occurred in the past, according to the individuals, for a G20 presidency-holding nation to host more than one summit. Italy, during its presidency in 2021, convened an unprecedented summit of world leaders concerning Afghanistan a few months following the Taliban’s takeover of power in Kabul.
“The virtual summit will provide an opportunity to evaluate the progress made since the September in-person summit.” A viewpoint exchange is scheduled to occur, and the G20 members have been provided with an agenda in advance,” stated one of the individuals cited earlier.
“The Indian perspective will be presented, and it is anticipated that other member states will do the same.” “India’s development agenda will continue to be a priority,” the individual further stated.
“The Indian side chose to hold the in-person summit earlier than usual, which gave us time to conduct a follow-up and evaluate everything that has transpired since September,” said a second individual.
A little over a week prior to December 1, when India will relinquish the rotating presidency of the G20 to Brazil, the virtual meeting will take place. Arindam Bagchi, a spokesman for the External Affairs Ministry, stated at a media briefing last month that all G20 members and guest nations have been extended invitations to the virtual summit, and that India anticipates “significant participation.”
The joint leaders’ declaration that was released at the G20 Summit in September was seen as India’s most important diplomatic achievement. This was because of the different views on the conflict in Ukraine that had led to joint statements at all ministerial meetings before this.
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As stated in the declaration, all nations are obligated to abstain from employing force to “seek territorial acquisition against the territorial integrity and sovereignty” of any state, in accordance with the United Nations Charter. It emphasized the significance of maintaining food and energy security and demanded an end to military destruction and other forms of infrastructure attacks, without specifically mentioning Russia.
