India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for the expansion and reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to better reflect the changing global realities. Modi made his plea at the recent G20 Summit, which was hosted by India for the first time. The summit concluded with leaders from around the world praising India’s presidency for achieving tangible outcomes.
Among the highlights of the G20 Summit was Modi passing the presidential gavel to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, expressing confidence in Brazil’s ability to promote global unity and prosperity. Additionally, the admission of the African Union as a permanent member of the G20 was welcomed by African leaders, who see it as an opportunity for the continent to advance its agenda on the global stage.
During bilateral talks, Modi met with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss issues of mutual interest. He also raised India’s concerns about anti-India activities in Canada that support secessionism and threaten the Indian community.
Indian-US partnership was praised by President Joe Biden, who stated that it is based on Mahatma Gandhi’s principle of trusteeship, which is shared by both countries. Russia hailed the G20 Summit under India’s presidency as a breakthrough conclave, which provided a path forward on various challenges and demonstrated the strength and importance of the Global South.
Modi also discussed enhancing trade and infrastructure relations with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The success of India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission was applauded by several world leaders, including IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. Leaders at the G20 Summit recognized Modi’s initiatives to combat climate change, with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida commending the concept of Mission LiFE.
Cultural events were also part of the G20 Summit, with a display of historic items from different countries at the Bharat Mandapam. G20 leaders paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial Rajghat and signed a peace wall. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife visited the Akshardham temple, acknowledging its architectural and historical significance.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for the creation of a new global framework for managing artificial intelligence risks, emphasizing the need to protect society from harmful AI and encourage responsible investments.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met with her Chinese counterpart Liu Kun to discuss G20-related matters and exchanged views. India’s G20 presidency was hailed by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, who stated that it made an indelible mark on the world stage and achieved a historic milestone in bridging the global trust deficit.
The G20 leaders’ declaration did not specifically mention the Russian invasion of Ukraine but instead called on all states to respect each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, seen as a compromise by Western powers.
At a ceremonial dinner, an ensemble of musicians played rare instruments to showcase India’s rich musical heritage to the G20 world leaders.
Overall, the G20 Summit hosted by India received praise for its achievements under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. The summit witnessed discussions on global reforms, bilateral talks on various issues, cultural events, and recognition of India’s initiatives in climate change and space exploration.
