India G-20 presidency

India’s G-20 presidency succeeded in pushing the climate funding envelope from the billions into the trillions.

By focusing on issues affecting developing countries, like food and fuel insecurity and debt, India is projecting itself as the leader of the Global South.

Islamabad could ask its friends in the G-20 to ensure that the final statement is not hostile to Pakistan in any way.

The Chinese foreign ministry has not given a reason for Xi’s absence at the upcoming event. Relations along the India-China border have been tense.

Rather than setting an agenda that would put forward the voices of the Global South and the world’s most marginalized, India has used its G-20 presidency for cynically domestic political purposes. 

With Xi possibly visiting India for the G-20 Summit in September, some hope for a tempering of tensions. But that might just be wishful thinking. 

India has made clear that it wants to use its G-20 presidency to give voice to concerns of the Global South.

India is attempting to present the territory a bastion of peace, four years after the abrogation of Article 370. But that peace has come at a high cost.

The G-20 tourism meeting will be the first significant international event in Kashmir since New Delhi stripped region of its autonomy in 2019.

Engaging with India is imperative for the G-7.

Shaping the multilateral agenda amidst varied national interests will be an important diplomatic test for India.