New Delhi - G20 members have achieved a unanimous agreement on a collective statement, and on September 9, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proudly announced the adoption of the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration.
"I am pleased to share some positive news. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our team, consensus has been forged regarding the New Delhi G20 Leaders' Summit Declaration," Modi declared, receiving applause. Subsequently, his proposal for the declaration's adoption received approval.
Notably, this agreement was reached remarkably swiftly, occurring midway through the first day of the two-day G20 Leaders' Summit convened in New Delhi.
The decision to adopt a Leaders' Declaration follows considerable anticipation regarding India's ability to unite the diverse factions within the G20 and establish a common language to address the contentious issue of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Prominent nations, including the United States, have been advocating for a strong condemnation of Russia's actions, while Moscow has remained steadfast in its stance and vowed to oppose any joint statement that does not align with its perspectives.
However, it appears that the deadlock has been overcome, and this breakthrough comes mere hours after Modi, in his opening remarks earlier on September 9, emphasized the importance of transforming the global trust deficit into mutual faith and belief.
"Historical & Path-breaking #G20 Declaration with 100% consensus on all developmental and geo-political issues. The new geopolitical paradigms are a powerful call for Planet, People, Peace, and Prosperity in today's world. Demonstrates PM @narendramodi leadership in today's world," Amitabh Kant, India's G20 Sherpa, said on X, formerly Twitter.
Details on the exact language used in the declaration are awaited. A joint statement will be a big shot in the arm for India, which has struggled to issue a communique after any of its key ministerial meetings during its G20 Presidency, with Russia and China dissenting on the nature of the language used to describe the conflict in Europe and its implications. This forced India to instead issue a Chair's Summary and Outcome Document over the last several months, which was widely seen as a blot on its Presidency.
Modi, meanwhile, also announced the launch of the Global Biofuel Alliance on September 9 and urged G20 nations to join the initiative, with a plea to take ethanol blending with petrol globally to 20 percent.