G-20 True Face

The G-20 is a group of advanced and emerging economic nations that convene to discuss monetary, financial, and fiscal issues. It was formed after the 1997-1999 Asian Financial Crisis and the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. The G-20 includes Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union. It is worth noting that the G-20 does not have a permanent headquarters of secretariat. 

The presidency rotates annually and is supported by the Troika, which comprises Indonesia, Italy, and Spain. Spain holds a permanent guest position in the G-20. The forum has two primary tracks: the Finance Track and the Sherpa Track. The Finance Track, led by Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors, focuses on monetary and financial issues and meets four times a year.

They collaborate with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The Sherpa Track, on the other hand, deals with socio-economic matters and is represented by the Sherpa of each participating country. In 2018, ShriShaktikanta Das served as the Indian Sherpa at the G-20 in Argentina.

G-20 Summit 2023 India

New Delhi, India is bustling with activity as heads of state and dignitaries arrive for the 18th G-20 Summit, set to take place from September 9th-10th, 2023 at the “Bharat Mandapam.” The summit’s theme, “One Earth, One Family, One Future” (VasudhaivaKutumbaKam), emphasises global unity and cooperation, drawing from ancient Sanskrit teachings of the Maha Upanishad. During these two days, PM NarendraModi will participate in over 15 bilateral meetings, which are expected to be attended by more than 30 heads of state and 14 heads of international organisations.

Prominent leaders such as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Turkish President RecepTayyipErdoğan, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Italian Prime Minister GiorgiaMeloni, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, and Brazilian President LuizInácio Lula da Silva will discuss topics such as green development, sustainable development, anti-corruption, and digital public infrastructure.

On September 9th, the two-day meeting began with a speech from Prime Minister NarendraModi. It is important to mention that the government has frequently used the term “Bharat” in various documents, which is also included in the Constitution alongside India. Later, PM Modi announced that the African Union, represented by Assoumani, will become a permanent member and that resolving the Ukraine Conflict will be a top priority for this meeting.

On the final day, Modi mentioned that India’s leadership of the G-20 would remain until November 30. This means there are still two and a half months left for India to lead the group. Modi then passed on the leadership role to Brazil and wished them the best as they took over on December 1.

The successful landing of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft on the moon and unexpected early breakthrough conventions in India have been making headlines. The summit covered various issues, including monetary, fiscal, and terrorism, attended by the world’s wealthiest countries.

However, it was eye-opening that Chinese President Xi Jinping, due to their frosty relations with India, and Russian President Vladimir Putin were absent. The “beautification drive” of the Summit that amounted to Rs 4,100 crore caused controversy. The precise cost of the G20 Summit has not been disclosed, leading to possible confusion. 

The government’s poverty policies have resulted in the displacement of street vendors and residents of New Delhi’s shantytowns, raising concerns about the use of taxpayers’ money. The harsh reality of slum residents being forced out of their homes through bulldozing has been concealed.Civil society organisations raised concerns about the Summit’s failure to confront critical global issues such as economic challenges, hunger, climate change, and more.

Additionally, reports surfaced about violence being inflicted upon Christian minorities. While the Declaration outlined a thorough list of commitments, we have concerns regarding their effectiveness. Our reservations stem from the absence of detailed, time-sensitive action plans and the lack of an unbiased system for monitoring and holding individuals accountable for their implementation. 

The joint declaration made in Delhi did not explicitly mention and denounce Russia’s actions in Ukraine, in contrast to the 2022 Bali Declaration. This has sparked criticism from certain groups. The spokesperson for the Ukrainian foreign minister expressed disappointment with the Delhi statement, stating that it was not something to be proud of. 

The European Union holds a disproportionate amount of representation in the G20, while other regions such as the Caribbean, Nordic countries, Southeast Asia, and Africa have been underrepresented or completely excluded from the G20. This is not a rejection of the G20, but rather a lack of fair representation for these regions. The G-20 Summit ended without the traditional “family photo,” symbolising the challenges and complexities faced by the nations in attendance and the lack of unity among the world’s largest economies.

While the exact figures of the G20 Summit’s costs are not publicly available as of certainly misleading

 Conclusion

The G20 Summit in India concluded with a notable achievement as the African Union (AU) was formally welcomed as a permanent member of the G20. Additionally, the G20 leaders adopted the ‘New Delhi Declaration’ for the first time.

PM Modi also launched the Global Biofuels Alliance, which aims to develop a global alliance with Brazil, India, and the United States, along with other interested countries. Another significant development was the announcement of the India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor by India, the United States, UAE, and other nations, which includes railway and shipping links to boost economic activity in the region.

The 2024 G20 Rio de Janeiro summit, is the upcoming nineteenth meeting of the Group of Twenty (G20), a summit scheduled to take place in Rio de Janeiro in 2024. Brazil will host the G20 in 2024, followed by South Africa in 2025.

This article has been contributed by Kanishka Rathore, a student at Rajasthan School of Law for Women.