2023-09-08 14:40:00
Smiles for the group photo, worried expressions at the negotiating table, a solemnly announced final declaration: This is how the G20 summits with the heads of state and government of the largest economic powers, including the USA, China, Japan and, as an organization, the EU, usually go.
But the summit, which begins in the Indian capital New Delhi, is in danger of flopping. Host Narendra Modi, the Indian Prime Minister, can be happy if there is a final statement at all. Sebastian Ramspeck, who reports from the summit for SRF, explains why.
Sebastian Ramspeck
International correspondent
Open the people box. Close the people box
Sebastian Ramspeck is an international correspondent for SRF. Previously, he was a correspondent in Brussels and worked as a business reporter for the news magazine “10vor10”. Ramspeck studied international relations at the Graduate Institute in Geneva.
What expectations are there for the meeting?
Rarely has a G20 summit been staged with so much pomp. New Delhi is cleaner than ever, and the Indian government has even hosted G20 yoga events. Modi wants to present India as a great power on an equal footing with the USA and China. But the pomp contrasts with the concrete expectations. For the first time ever, a G20 summit might end without a final declaration. Especially since the preparatory meetings at ministerial level have already failed to reach agreement.
Where is the problem?
Tensions between the major powers are greater than ever. Western heads of government want at least “most” G20 states to “strongly condemn” Russia’s war once morest Ukraine – this was agreed upon at the last G20 summit. But Russia, represented only by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, no longer wants to agree to such a compromise formula. Compromises are also difficult to achieve in climate policy. Only because the host country India generates around 70 percent of its electricity with climate-damaging coal.
Where can we expect more unity?
Another issue is the heavily indebted poor countries, which might be promised debt relief. Digitalization should also be a topic, such as closer cooperation on digital currencies. On these issues, states might be willing to show a minimum of cooperation.
Legend: Nataraja, a statue of the Hindu god Shiva as a cosmic dancer, towers over the summit’s main meeting location. REUTERS/Amit Dave
Why is Chinese President Xi Jinping staying away from the summit?
To date, Xi has always personally represented his country at the G20 summits, and there is no official explanation for his absence. One reason might be the tensions with the host country India. Another is the increasingly threatening economic crisis in China. In any case, Xi is withdrawing from the dialogue between the great powers that he likes to propagate in his speeches.
How might an agreement still come regarding?
For Modi, the G20 summit is a prestigious event. Even for a dry final communiqué, any diplomatic contortions would be fine with him. The G20 group’s raison d’être is in any case up for debate. It was founded in 1999 to deal with global crises. She is hardly able to do that anymore. But many G20 diplomats don’t want to admit this – and may end up engaging in contortions that would be appropriate at a power yoga event.
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