In a historic development at the G20 Summit held in Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially announced the induction of the African Union as a permanent member of the Group of 20 (G20) states. This momentous decision was welcomed with great ceremony, with PM Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar extending a warm welcome to African Union chair and Comoros President Azali Assoumani.
In his opening address to the summit, PM Modi expressed his satisfaction with the unanimous agreement on India’s proposal to grant permanent G20 membership to the African Union. He then called upon the African Union head to take his rightful place as a permanent member, symbolized by the ceremonial gavel.
While this inclusion does not entail a name change for the G20, it marks a significant step in the evolution of this global platform. The G20 has been grappling with growing divisions, particularly regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict, making consensus more challenging to achieve.
PM Modi’s inaugural remarks during Session-1 of the G20 Summit focused on the urgent need to transform the global trust deficit into a foundation built on trust and reliance. He emphasized the importance of unity, highlighting issues such as the divide between North and South, East and West, and various global challenges ranging from food and fuel management to cyber security and health.
Before commencing the formal proceedings of the G20 Summit, PM Modi expressed his condolences for the people of Morocco affected by a devastating earthquake in their country. He reaffirmed India’s solidarity with Morocco and welcomed all attendees as the president of the G20 Summit.
This significant development at the G20 Summit underscores the evolving dynamics of global diplomacy and India’s role in shaping international cooperation.
