India which currently holds the G20 presidency, is going to meet a few challenges as the world’s biggest powers converge in Delhi.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is likely to overshadow the talks between the foreign ministers, as US, Russia, China all take a seat at the table in Delhi.
While the West focuses solely on the war, the fertilizer, food and energy crises caused by both the pandemic, inflation and the Russia-Ukraine situation is what the developing world is keen to discuss more prominently.
While Europe and the US will look to dispel Russia’s attempts to frame the war as a West versus the rest conflict, the emerging world, whether viewed in the context of the BRICs or indeed the changing perspectives of the ‘Global South’ as to why the war started, may not share this worldview, as it seeks to guard against being forced to choose sides, or let the war dominate discussions at the G20 table.
India has so far refrained from criticizing Russia directly on Ukraine, defying appeals by the West.
India was one of 32 countries that abstained from a recent UN General Assembly resolution vote calling for a Russian withdrawal from Ukraine, and continues trading with Russia, harking back to a trusted relationship established during the Cold War.
At the same time, as the world’s fifth largest economy and a rising global power, the West would be cautious so as to not label India as anti-Western or pro-Russian, with the US and Europe both strengthening trade relations with it.
The war in Ukraine has definitely proved a catalyst for the larger ideological war between countries in the emerging world who certainly do not condone Russia’s measures, but won’t condemn Russia, owing to the prism of the West and the way it dictates terms.
They feel Ukraine’s Western allies are trying to hijack the G20 forum at the expense of crucial issues such as climate action or tackling development on the continent.
According to a new global survey published by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), the Western alliance remains united in its support for Ukraine, but the gulf between their perspective and other powers in the world has grown wider, which will make its presence felt at the G20 meet.
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