Heading the G20 and New Delhi’s choices

Last Updated26/08/2022

India will soon assume the year long presidency of Group of 20 (G20) for the first time.
India has hosted large international conferences but nothing compares with hosting the G20.
G20 is the world’s informal steering directorate on global economic issues; it entails the responsibility of shaping decision-making on key challenges facing the world today; and its summit is preceded by a large quantum of preparatory deliberations that feed into the final outcome.

Its membership represents nearly
90% of the world’s GDP,
80% of global trade,
67% of the planet’s population.
It is an advisory body, not a treaty-based forum and, therefore, its decisions are recommendations to its own members.
The representation of the UN, the World Bank, IMF, WTO, WHO, and other multilateral institutions in it makes the G20 an incomparable body.
The G20 has played a vital role in addressing financial and economic challenges such as the global financial crisis of 2008-09 and the Eurozone crisis of 2010.

The forum was elevated from the finance ministers to the heads of government/state in 2008.
In the second decade of the G20, the forum is faced with an existential crisis, where the major powers have fallen out. It makes the task of the presidency much more complicated.
The disastrous impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic
The war in Ukraine, India-China border tensions,
EU/U.S.-Russia hostility
Deteriorating U.S.-China relations are visible in the run-up to the 2022

India’s national interest,
Leaving its mark on the G20,
Maintaining its primacy as an effective instrument of global governance.
1st Idea: Unique branding opportunity for India’s recent achievements,
Managing COVID-19 effectively (vaccine aid and diplomacy).
India’s digital revolution
Progress in switching to renewables,
Meeting its targets to counter climate change
Push for self-reliance in manufacturing
Reshaping global value chains.
2nd Idea: Opportunity for synergy and solidarity to advance the interests of the developing world and to assert their combined leadership of the Global South.
3rd Idea: All three members of IBSA to hold the presidency consecutively in 2023, 2024, and 2025. * Develop a cohesive plan to project the priority concerns of the Global South.
IBSA needs an urgent rejuvenation by convening an informal meeting of its top leaders, perhaps on the sidelines of the Bali summit.
4th Idea: India needs to get ready to emerge as the chief global diplomat.

These four choices are not mutually exclusive.
Possibility: To weld them together to create a holistic and comprehensive approach for the Indian presidency of the G20.
Challenge: To combine an India-focused view,
Promote the vital interests of the Global South
Demonstrate diplomatic acumen to communicate with
Reconcile the viewpoints of rival and adversarial power centres such as the West, Russia, and China.
India today is in the enviable position to deliver this unique package. It must rise to the occasion.