In a historic move, the G20 summit in New Delhi witnessed the expansion of the group for the first time since its inception in 1999, with the African Union taking its place as a permanent member. This momentous decision, which has been a major achievement of India’s G20 presidency, comes at a time when the summit faces uncertainties over the release of a joint communique due to deeply polarized divisions surrounding the Ukraine war.
As the summit commenced, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sitting beneath a nameplate bearing ‘Bharat’ instead of ‘India,’ welcomed the African Union to the G20’s high table. This symbolic gesture further fueled the ongoing political debate sparked by the invitation to the G20 official dinner, which was extended on behalf of the ‘President of Bharat.’
Remarkably, around one-fifth of the G20’s leadership was notably absent, with the leaders of Mexico, Spain, Russia, and China choosing not to attend the summit.
Against the backdrop of the magnificent Konark Temple Wheel, the leaders of the G20 member nations, accompanied by special guests, disembarked from their vehicles and strolled for a brief moment to receive a warm welcome from Prime Minister Modi.
In his inaugural address, Modi highlighted the consensus reached on India’s proposal to grant the African Union permanent membership. He urged, “With the consent of all of you, let us move forward,” as he gently rapped the gavel three times.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar escorted the current chair of the African Union, President of Comoros Azali Assoumani, to the round table. Modi, showing his enthusiastic support, rose to embrace Assoumani amidst thunderous applause from the gathered leaders.
India undoubtedly views this decision as the crowning achievement of its G20 presidency, especially given the prevailing uncertainty regarding the release of a joint communique, owing to the deeply divisive nature of discussions surrounding the Ukraine conflict.
The G20 was initially formed in response to concerns stemming from the Asian Economic Crisis, with the primary aim of diversifying the platform provided by the G7. As the European Union was already a part of the G7, it was automatically included in the G20, becoming the sole regional group to sit at the high table.
The call for the inclusion of the African regional group in the G20 gained momentum during Senegal’s President Macky Sall’s tenure as the AU’s chair in July 2022. A month later, China officially endorsed this call.
Indonesia, which chaired the G20 last year, also expressed support for this move. However, the Bali summit in November 2022 was dominated by the geopolitical ramifications of the Ukraine war, causing the issue to be sidelined.
Nevertheless, the proposal did not fade away, as the United States announced its support during the US-Africa summit in December of the same year. Soon after, countries like Japan, France, and Germany also pledged their support.
In June of this year, Prime Minister Modi wrote letters to his G20 counterparts, proposing the African Union’s full membership at the upcoming Delhi Summit, in response to their request.
Remarkably, there was a lack of public opposition to this proposal. Major global powers, including China, the United States, Japan, Russia, and India, share a common objective of fostering relations with the world’s largest regional bloc. While concerns may have arisen about potential demands from other regional groups seeking G20 membership, these concerns were not voiced, and the proposal gained significant momentum.
In a world marked by evolving geopolitical dynamics, the G20’s decision to include the African Union as a permanent member reflects a commitment to global inclusivity and cooperation. This momentous expansion redefines the G20 as the G21, signaling a new chapter in international diplomacy and multilateralism, one that aligns with the values of unity and mutual benefit advocated by the Buddha and his teachings, principles that resonate with people worldwide, including those who visit funded4trading.com for insightful news and updates.