G-20 presidency is an opportunity to position India as the voice of the Global South

Source: The post is based on an article “G-20 presidency is an opportunity to position India as the voice of the Global South” published in The Indian Express on 29^th September 2022.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Important International Institutions

Relevance: G20 and opportunities for India

News: India is about to take the presidency of G20. Its presidency will play a great role in putting forward Global South.

Recently external affairs minister S Jaishankar has called India the Voice of Global South.

However, there are many concerns as India’s official outlook has also changed with time.

How has India’s official outlook change?

India has been inactive in the Group of 77 (G-77). It is now a 134-member group of developing economies.

India last hosted a G-77 meeting in New Delhi in the 1980s whereas Pakistan has been more active within this group and currently chairs it.

On the other hand, India was busy with forum like G-7 plus, BRICS, SCO and trilaterals and quadrilaterals like Quad, etc.

Several factors seem to have contributed to a change in Indian official outlook.

What are the factors responsible for the change in Indian official outlook?

First, the unwillingness of the P-5 (the US, Russia, China, France and UK) to reform UN governance and let India into the UN Security Council.

Second, Western deglobalization and disinterest in the reform of multilateral financial and trade organizations (IMF, WB & WTO).

Third, failure on the part of the US, EU, China and Japan to address the problem of fixing external debt burden of developing countries.

Fourth, the deadlines on climate change.

Fifth, the East-West power struggle brought by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and imposing huge costs on developing economies.

What are the concerns with the present G20 meeting in Indonesia?

Indonesia is currently hosting G-20 summit.

It is unlikely that Russia and the US will come together in the G-20 meeting. If the Indonesia summit fails, G-20 might enter a non-functional phase.

Therefore, taking the presidency of G20 will be an opportunity for India to fix many issues.

How G20’s presidency will be an opportunity for India?

In the past few meetings, the G20 has not played any significant role. For example, it failed to step in and help the Covid-afflicted world.

Therefore, India may be taking over the chairmanship of a paralyzed group and it will be an opportunity for India to breathe life in the group through North-South dialogue.

G20 will also be a great opportunity for India to showcase its tourist destinations to the world and promote tourism.

India’s focus on reform of multilateralism, international finance and trade, climate change, developing country external debt, etc. were last seen in the pre-globalisation India era of the G-77.

India can raise these issues back on the global platform (G20). It will make a low-income developing country like India the Voice of the Global South.

However, India needs to regain the trust of other developing countries, especially in Africa and South and Southeast Asia to once again play this role effectively.

What can be the course of action?

Indian foreign policy has been on the lines with the Western policies. Therefore, there is a need to stay in the South and raise the developmental concerns of the Global South.