Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded the G20 summit on Sunday (10 September), where divisions over the Ukraine conflict and climate change took center stage, granting him a moment in the diplomatic spotlight.
The G20 leaders have been deeply divided over the Ukraine war since Russia’s invasion last year, with Russian President Vladimir Putin notably absent from the summit to avoid political scrutiny. Finding common ground has been a persistent challenge, particularly regarding the ongoing conflict.
In a bid to mitigate a diplomatic embarrassment, India, as the host, pushed for a joint statement on Saturday that condemned the use of force for territorial gain but refrained from direct criticism of Russia. The move was met with mixed reactions, with Kyiv stating that the G20 had “nothing to be proud of,” while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, standing in for Putin, claimed a diplomatic victory by stating that the text didn’t mention Russia.
On Sunday, Modi officially closed the summit by passing a ceremonial gavel to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who will assume the bloc’s presidency in December. Lula emphasized the importance of not letting geopolitical issues overshadow the G20’s discussions and stressed the need for peace and cooperation.
Despite the urgent climate crisis, G20 leaders failed to reach an agreement on phasing out fossil fuels, instead endorsing a target to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030 and committing to a “phasedown” of coal in line with national circumstances.
Modi, who sees the summit as India’s diplomatic maturation and seeks a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, celebrated the African Union’s accession to the G20, transforming it into a more inclusive “people’s G20.” He also proposed another G20 leaders’ meeting in November via video link, opening the door for Putin and China’s Xi Jinping to participate.
Lula stated that Putin would be welcome to attend next year’s event in Rio de Janeiro, even though Brazil is a signatory to the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has issued a warrant for Putin’s arrest on war crimes charges.
On the summit’s sidelines, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held face-to-face talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, marking a significant step in mending a decade-long rift between their countries.
World leaders paid their respects to Mahatma Gandhi, India’s revered independence hero, by visiting the site of his cremation. Many leaders, including Modi, walked barefoot in the rain-dampened area, while others wore slippers as a mark of respect. They observed a moment of silence and laid wreaths at the marble plinth that honors Gandhi’s memory.
