New Delhi- The G20 leaders have achieved a significant milestone by unanimously adopting a joint declaration, as confirmed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a pivotal session at the G20 summit in Delhi. This historic development allays concerns that differences regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict might obstruct consensus for the first time in the group’s history.
In an afternoon address, Prime Minister Modi conveyed the gratifying news, stating, “I have just received the heartening news that, owing to the diligent efforts of our teams and the cooperative spirit among all nations, we have successfully reached a consensus on the declaration for the New Delhi G20 leaders’ summit.”
The declaration was met with resounding applause as Modi declared its formal adoption.
Modi emphasized that this year’s G20 summit is “the most ambitious in the history of G20.” With a substantial 112 outcomes and presidency documents, the substantive work has more than doubled compared to previous presidencies.
However, observers noted a notable shift in the language concerning Russia’s role in the Ukraine conflict compared to the previous year. References to Russia, Russian aggression, and Russia’s withdrawal, which featured prominently in last year’s G20 joint statement in Bali, were conspicuously absent.
Instead, the declaration underscores that nations must “refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition” and unequivocally states that “the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible.”
Amitabh Kant, India’s G20 representative, underscored the remarkable achievement of “100% consensus from all countries” across all 83 paragraphs in the declaration.
To secure this consensus, an arduous and relentless process of over 200 hours of negotiations was undertaken. Kant acknowledged the pivotal roles played by Brazil and South Africa, the subsequent two G20 presidents, in persuading Russia to concur with the agreed-upon language, alongside Indonesia, Turkey, and Mexico. A senior EU official remarked that Russia found itself “cornered” in the negotiations by Saturday.
This achievement represents a significant triumph for India, which currently holds the G20 presidency. The group, comprising the world’s largest economies, faced a challenging year, with Russia and China resisting consensus on critical issues such as the Ukraine war, climate action, and energy transition, leading to disruptions in prior ministerial meetings.
Until Friday night, there was a deadlock regarding how to address the Ukraine conflict in the joint statement, with the section concerning the “geopolitical situation” left blank. European nations advocated for strong condemnation of Russia’s invasion, but Russia and China opposed any reference to the war. China also objected to a reference to the US assuming the G20 presidency in 2026.
Reports indicate that Indian officials circulated a revised paragraph addressing the Ukraine conflict to G20 leaders on Saturday morning, which ultimately garnered unanimous acceptance.
The joint statement encompasses a range of critical issues, including agreements on climate financing, global debt, institutional reforms (e.g., World Bank), and a new “green development pact” among member states. Notably, it officially welcomed the African Union into the G20, following India’s invitation during its presidency.
Kant highlighted the declaration’s significance as the “most ambitious document on climate action” to date. It includes commitments to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030 and acknowledges that developing nations will require $5.9 trillion in funding to meet their climate targets.
Nevertheless, there was no additional language regarding the G20’s transition away from fossil fuels. The member states, which collectively host 93% of the world’s operational coal power plants, committed solely to a “phase down” of coal.
