G20 adopts Modi’s declaration despite Ukraine differences

The G20 summit in India has adopted the New Delhi leaders’ declaration on Saturday.

The declaration says, “In line with the UN Charter, all states must refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state.” The text avoids direct mention of Russia or its military aggression in Ukraine.

The document reflects consideration for Western nations and Russia amid a widening split over the invasion of Ukraine.

There had been concerns that, due to the absence of the Russian and Chinese presidents and marked differences of opinion within the group over the war in Ukraine, that an agreement would be hard to come by.

“Thanks to the hard work of our team and your support, a consensus has been reached on the declaration from the G20 Heads of State and Government Summit in New Delhi,” Narendra Modi said.

“I announce the adoption of the declaration,” added the Indian Prime Minister, accompanying his words with a ceremonial hammer blow.

The contents of the joint communiqué from the G20, a group of the world’s largest economies to which the African Union was officially included as a permanent member for the first time, has not yet been made public.

Achieving consensus among G20 members has become increasingly complex in recent years, partly due to divisions over what stance to take on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and over the funding needed to support it.

There had been concerns over whether a joint declaration would be possible at all, due to the differences within the group over the conflict.

It was feared, too, that the absence of the Russian and Chinese presidents could also make it significantly more difficult for the G20 leaders to come to a consensus.

For Indian official and G20 sherpa Amitabh Kant, one of the key organisers of the New Delhi summit, Saturday’s discussions proved that this year was the most “ambitious” in the history of the club of the world’s largest economies.

“We have more than tripled the substantive work from previous presidencies,” Kant wrote on X (formerly Twitter).