Posted on: Post Date – 12:35 AM, Thu – 11/17/22
India must seize the historic opportunity to serve as a bridge to ease tensions among nations and pave the way for a new world order. With the war in Ukraine overshadowing the G20 summit in the Indonesian island resort of Bali, global leaders are looking to India to play a key role in exploring ways to restore a ceasefire and diplomatic path in Ukraine. A major task ahead for India, represented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who takes over the G20 presidency, is resolving deep divisions in the work of the world’s major economic forums, notably over Russia’s incursion into Ukraine. Because of its close ties to Moscow and Washington, New Delhi is ideally positioned to bridge the gap between the world’s major economies. The 18th summit will be held in India next year. It took over at a time when the world is experiencing turmoil marked by military conflict, economic uncertainty and the aftermath of a devastating pandemic. The need for a collective response to the climate crisis is now more urgent than ever, especially given the lack of financing for climate transition in developed countries and the food and energy security crisis exacerbated by the conflict in Ukraine.
The G20 is the main forum for international economic cooperation, representing about 85% of the world’s GDP, more than 75% of global trade, and about two-thirds of the world’s population. Along with Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron attended the summit. Setting the tone for the work ahead, Modi said India’s G20 presidency would be based on the theme of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” or “One Planet, One Family”. Indeed, India’s presidency should represent the most vulnerable constituencies and give a voice to the global south. It could also facilitate economic integration within South Asia, which is crucial to India’s rise. India’s commitment to advancing South-South cooperation is widely recognized around the world. At the height of the pandemic, India provided 250 million doses of vaccines to 101 countries, among other medical aid. New Delhi’s G20 presidency comes amid growing confidence, rising stature and high economic growth rates. However, the current geopolitical environment presents a number of challenges – heightened tensions between the G7 countries and Russia over the war in Ukraine, and growing friction between the US and China. India is uniquely positioned in the world to understand the priorities of developed countries and understand the challenges of developing countries, allowing it to act as a bridge to meet expectations.
