Amitabh Kant, India’s G20 Sherpa, has unveiled the behind-the-scenes journey of India’s G20 Presidency in his book “How India Scaled Mt G20: The Inside Story of the G20 Presidency” (Rupa Publications). The book highlights the challenges, negotiations, and triumphs that shaped one of the most significant global summits hosted in New Delhi in September 2023.
Let us delve into the detailed account of how India navigated the complexities of global diplomacy to make the G20 summit a resounding success.
The Road to Consensus: A Grueling Journey
Kant’s book underscores the monumental challenge of achieving a consensus among diverse nations with conflicting interests. The New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration (NDLD), a 37-page document, was finalized after 300 hours of negotiations and over 250 bilateral meetings.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi played a proactive role, staying closely involved and regularly briefed on the progress. Kant narrates that the Prime Minister, aware of the stakes, demanded urgent situation reports every two hours, spurring the team into action.
Prime Minister Modi’s Leadership
The book recounts a key moment on the morning of September 9, 2023, when Prime Minister Modi met Kant at Bharat Mandapam. As Kant informed him about unresolved conflicts—especially between the United States and China—the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of securing a consensus. Modi remarked that he was not interested in procedures or processes but wanted results.
This direct and assertive leadership set the tone for the negotiations, pushing the team to focus on a tangible outcome.
Geopolitical Challenges: Navigating Conflicts
Kant details the significant geopolitical hurdles faced during the summit, highlighting how bilateral issues between nations risked overshadowing the multilateral agenda.
Russia’s Demand for Sanctions
Russia insisted that the term ‘sanction’ be included in the declaration, a demand that faced opposition from other member states. Kant narrates how extensive discussions were held with Alexander Pankin, Russia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, to resolve this issue.
The turning point came when the Indian team firmly conveyed to Russia that their insistence on including sanctions would isolate them with a 19-1 vote against their position. This direct approach led to Russia relenting on its demand.
China’s Visa Concerns
The head of China’s delegation raised an unusual bilateral issue—visa restrictions imposed by the US. They opposed language in the declaration about the US hosting the 2026 G20 Summit unless they received written assurances of visa issuance.
Kant describes parallel negotiations held between 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM, where the wording was revised to include the term ‘ensure’ instead of ‘guarantee.’ This resolution, though beyond the scope of India’s role as the G20 Chair, helped secure China’s agreement.
Ukraine’s Absence: A Strategic Decision
Kant highlights the pressure from G7 nations—Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US—to invite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the summit. However, India firmly decided to restrict the guest list to G20 leaders, maintaining a neutral stance.
Dr. S. Jaishankar, India’s Minister of External Affairs, advised a bold strategy to counter Russian objections. Kant informed Russia that if they didn’t agree to the terms, Zelenskyy would be invited as the first speaker after PM Modi’s speech. This decisive tactic ultimately persuaded Russia to cooperate.
The Declaration’s Finalization: A Historic Achievement
By the start of the summit’s second session, Prime Minister Modi announced a consensus on the declaration—an achievement described as a “no small feat” by Kant. Unlike the 2022 Bali Summit, where negotiations extended into the final hours, India managed to secure consensus on the first day itself.
The process required overcoming significant obstacles, including the persistent revisions and objections to the text. Kant credits India’s diplomatic agility and ability to navigate bilateral disputes as the key to this success.
India’s Diplomatic Triumph: Lessons from the Summit
Kant’s book offers valuable insights into India’s strategic diplomacy and negotiation tactics during its G20 Presidency. From addressing the Russia-Ukraine conflict to resolving bilateral issues between the US and China, India showcased remarkable leadership and a commitment to multilateral cooperation.
Key Factors Behind the Success
- Assertive Leadership: PM Modi’s proactive involvement and real-time updates ensured focused negotiations.
- Strategic Negotiations: Bold tactics, such as leveraging Zelenskyy’s potential presence, influenced critical outcomes.
- Multilateral Focus: Despite bilateral tensions, India upheld the spirit of the G20 by prioritizing a united outcome.
Summary of the News
Section | Details |
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Why in News | Amitabh Kant, India’s G20 Sherpa, unveils the inside story of India’s G20 Presidency in his book, “How India Scaled Mt G20: The Inside Story of the G20 Presidency”. |
Book Highlights | The book details the challenges, negotiations, and triumphs during the G20 Summit hosted in New Delhi in September 2023. |
Key Challenges | – Finalizing the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration (NDLD) after 300 hours of negotiations and 250 bilateral meetings. |
Prime Minister’s Role | – PM Modi actively oversaw the process, receiving updates every two hours. |
Major Geopolitical Issues | Russia’s Demand: Russia wanted the term ‘sanctions’ in the declaration but later relented after India’s firm stance. China’s Visa Issue: China opposed US hosting the 2026 G20 Summit due to visa concerns, resolved with revised wording (‘ensure’ instead of ‘guarantee’). |
Strategic Decisions | – Denied G7’s push to invite Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy to the summit. |
Consensus Achieved | – Consensus on the declaration was finalized on the first day of the summit, avoiding delays like the 2022 Bali Summit. |
Leadership Factors | – Assertive leadership by PM Modi and strategic diplomatic tactics by the Indian team ensured success. |
Outcome | The G20 Summit was a diplomatic triumph for India, showcasing its ability to resolve complex multilateral and bilateral disputes effectively. |