India’s 18th Group of 20 Summit (G20 Summit) under the presidency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi witnessed a remarkable accomplishment as the New Delhi G20 Leaders Declaration achieved ‘100% consensus’ on a range of critical issues, including the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The drafting of this historic declaration was the result of tireless efforts and sleepless nights by four distinguished Indian diplomats.
The New Delhi Summit Declaration, unveiled by Prime Minister Modi during the summit’s opening day, focused on key global concerns, including the Ukraine conflict, geopolitical tensions, sustainable economic growth, and the promotion of inclusivity.
The four Indian diplomats instrumental in crafting the Delhi Declaration were Abhay Thakur, Ashish Sinha, Nagaraj Naidu Kakanur, and Enam Gambhir, the sole woman among them. Their diligent work involved months of rigorous negotiations and a final push, encompassing five consecutive sleepless nights from September 3rd, ultimately culminating in a consensus communique.
Enam Gambhir
Enam Gambhir, a University of Geneva alumna, has been serving in the Indian Government’s Ministry of External Affairs since January 2021. Her prior role was as Second Secretary for India’s Embassy in Argentina. Presently, Gambhir holds the position of Joint Secretary G20, representing the 2005 batch of the Indian Foreign Services (IFS). Notably, she has contributed her expertise as a senior advisor on Peace and Security issues in the Office of the President of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York. Fluent in Spanish, English, and Hindi, Gambhir’s multi-dimensional background includes addressing issues concerning Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran during her tenure in New Delhi from 2011 to 2016. She holds dual Master’s degrees, one in mathematics from Delhi University and another in international security from the University of Geneva. In addition to her diplomatic prowess, she is also a poet in Spanish, English, and Hindi.
Ashish Sinha
Another luminary from the 2005 batch of IFS officers, Ashish Sinha, boasts proficiency in Spanish and has served in prominent diplomatic posts in Madrid, Kathmandu, New York, and Nairobi. His roles in New Delhi encompassed serving in the External Affairs Minister’s office and as a desk officer for Pakistan.
Abhay Thakur:
Abhay Thakur, a Russian language expert, currently holds the position of Additional Secretary and serves as the Sous-sherpa, ranking as the second-in-command to India’s G20 Sherpa, Amitabh Kant. Thakur has represented India as an envoy to Mauritius and Nigeria and has played pivotal roles in handling diplomatic relations with Nepal and Bhutan within the Ministry of External Affairs. His career has also seen him serve as a director in the External Affairs Minister’s office.
Nagaraj Naidu Kakanur:
Fluent in Chinese, Nagaraj Naidu Kakanur serves as a Joint Secretary and played a central role in negotiating paragraphs related to the Ukraine conflict. His extensive diplomatic experience includes serving as the Chef de Cabinet to the President of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. Naidu, a member of the 1998 batch of IFS officers, has previously overseen the Economic Diplomacy division at the Ministry of External Affairs and headed the Europe West Division, where he managed diplomatic ties with major G7 countries, including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the European Union. Naidu holds a Master’s degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.
The path to achieving a complete consensus on the Delhi Declaration, especially concerning the Ukraine-Russia conflict, was not without its challenges. Gambhir and Naidu, entrusted with the negotiations on this critical issue, encountered difficulties a month after the G20 Summit in Bali when consensus on Ukraine broke down in December. To overcome this, the diplomats strategically enlisted the support of Brazil and South Africa, fellow developing countries set to host future G20 summits. This troika, representing the past, present, and future presidencies, lent credibility to their arguments. After months of dedicated effort, five sleepless nights of negotiations, and the crucial phone calls between Prime Minister Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as a bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden, the consensus on the Delhi Declaration was sealed on a historic Friday night.
The accomplishment of these diplomats underscores India’s diplomatic prowess on the global stage, solidifying its role as a key player in addressing critical global issues.
