G-20, the balancing act & Modi’s leadership

From the editor’s desk

There is something charismatic about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his leadership that gets the most improbable of things done, quite literally. While many critics of Modi, both within the country and outside it, are saying that the recentlyconcluded G-20 summit became more of a Modi show, but even critics acknowledge that things as arduous as getting the Delhi declaration done so swiftly, could only be possible due to Modi’s ‘Midas touch’. That Modi is no ordinary run-of-the-mill leader has now already become well-known. And it is also true that the world today needs a decisive leader like the Indian Prime Minister to give his country and the world a much-needed direction. It is also a fact now that India's G-20 presidency has brought to the fore several tangible outcomes. This has necessitated many of the world leaders, who attended the twoday summit in New Delhi, to hail Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his decisive leadership, and what they felt was his efforts to champion the voice of the Global South.

While G-20 was not about Modi per se, but the Indian Prime Minister’s crucial leadership at a difficult juncture, prior to a declaration, was effective and much awaited. That Modi has a very competent team with members like National Security Advisor Ajit Kumar Doval and Minister for External Affairs S Jaishankar is also well-known internationally, by now. This further strengthens Modi’s leadership, both within the country and also globally. The Indian Prime Minister was meticulous in choosing the right setting for the G-20 summit. Bharat Mandapam was the venue for the summit, and it was quite an appropriate one as it brought together the memories of India’s ancient past and mingled it with all the modern facilities, including India’s endeavour to fully digitalize the country. Even the cuisine for hosting the delegates and the world leaders were carefully chosen to gel with the theme of a non-violent Bharat, which has abundance of sophistication and variety in matters of gastronomic delights. ‘Atithi devo’ (guests are gods) was India’s ancient spiritual philosophy, which was apparent in the manner in which each guest was accorded the welcome they deserved being heads of their respective states or heads of their respective governments.

China’s President Xi Jinping may have missed the trick to talk his way through to the hearts of the assembled world leaders. But then President Xi never espoused such a belief. On the contrary, most of the world leaders in attendance for the summit hailed the Indian Prime Minister’s hospitality and praised him for presiding over a successful summit. They also made the observation that India’s message of 'one earth, one family, one future' was apt and resonated strongly with all the delegates. Before the G-20 leaders’ summit began in New Delhi, there were a lot of challenges, and the challenges still exist for the Indian Prime Minister as the Indian Parliament awaits its special session this month, which is expected to see acrimonious scenes from the opposition. But even before the summit began, the real challenges before the Indian Prime Minister were many. For instance, how to provide an impeccable security cover to so many top leaders of the world. It wasn’t going to be an easy task to just order the lockdown of Delhi. There is already a local government in Delhi. They needed to be taken into confidence and their cooperation was sought and obtained. Then the public needs to be told and persuaded of the significance of this summit for India, and why Delhi residents must remain supportive to and cooperative with the government in putting up with the near-lockdown situation. The Indian Prime Minister had addressed all these issues before the actual summit began on September 9. Then there was the news that both the Chinese and the Russian Presidents won’t be coming for the summit. Of course, Putin spoke to Modi over phone informing him of his unavailability during the summit due to obvious reasons. The decision by the Chinese President Xi Jinping not to come for the summit was also expected, given the fact that he was at the BRICS summit in South Africa earlier, when he must have had the feeling that the global environment has turned against China. So the best course of action for him was to skip the summit. There are certain other reasons for not coming to India. One of them was related to the India-China border dispute, which has not been resolved as yet. Then there was the Adani pressure on China, with many international companies being wooed by India’s Adani, and these companies, on their part, showing willingness to work with the Adani group. Perhaps China had also anticipated the announcement of the IndiaMiddle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), which is a potential counter to China’s Border and Road Initiative (BRI). However, President Xi’s absence at the G-20 summit would further alienate China from the international community. The US President, Joe Biden, had already shown his displeasure at the absence of the Chinese President at such a crucial meeting.

Modi also had the challenge of how to persuade the West not to press for a strong anti-Russia statement at the G-20 summit. Russia had already warned against ‘Ukrainisation’ of G-20, which in other words means issuing a statement, based on consensus, bitterly criticizing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Modi, of course succeeded in toning down the statement issued from G-20 leaders’ meeting regarding the Ukraine war. Many countries of the West, including Germany, have shown their displeasure as they sought a strong language of the statement that would condemn Russia for its invasion of and war against Ukraine. Modi was treading the difficult path of not attracting Russia’s wrath, as also not to antagonize the West against India.

The Indian Prime Minister also had to be well aware of the fact that the public in his country was also watching him and would continue to watch him right till the next general elections were held. The more Modi shines abroad, the more his personal ratings in India get better than before. Even his detractors would find it very difficult to criticize him for his actions and achievements abroad and within the country. And the Indian Prime Minister is not known to mince words. He was quite straightforward in letting the Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau know that his lackadaisical approach in dealing with Khalistani supporters in Canada, who were openly spewing venom against India, was unacceptable. Despite the fact that Indian diplomats in Canada were being subjected to open threats by the Khalistanis, the Canadian government has not taken any action to restrain their antiIndia activities. However, when Trudeau’s plane broke down and he was stranded in India, he was offered Indian plane service to take him to Canada, which was of course declined by the Canadian premier.

World leaders like the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, US President Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Kishida, Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Brazilian President Lula da Silva and many other world leaders, who attended the G-20 summit, have hailed Modi’s hospitality, and praised him for his able and effective leadership. As the baton of G-20 presidency now passes on to Brazil, the test remains of how much world leaders can achieve on the declarations they have already made. The implementation of the statements made will be keenly observed. And here also Modi and India’s role will be crucial. India has been at the forefront, setting examples before the international community regarding the achieving of climate change goals. In other matters of national and international interests, leadership of India will continue to be significant and needed.