Main Topic: Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to attend the G20 summit in New Delhi and the risks he faces.
Key Points:
1. Putin is considering attending his first in-person meeting with Western leaders since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
2. The G20 summit could be politically aggressive towards Putin, with potential confrontations and challenging questions from journalists.
3. Putin's attendance at the summit would be a high-stakes decision, as he seeks to relaunch himself on the world stage and repair relations with the West.
### Summary
United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai will visit India next week for the G20 Trade and Investment Ministers' Meeting, where she will participate in G20 sessions and hold bilateral meetings with Indian counterparts.
### Facts
- 🇺🇸 USTR Katherine Tai will visit India for the G20 Trade and Investment Ministers' Meeting.
- 📅 August 23-25: Tai will participate in G20 sessions on multilateral trade and inclusive prosperity in Jaipur.
- Meetings: Tai will hold bilateral meetings with Indian counterparts and business leaders.
- 📅 August 26: Tai will meet with government officials and continue bilateral meetings.
- 🇮🇳 India's G20 Presidency: India's priority issues are growth, resilient value chains, MSMEs, logistics, and WTO reform.
- Attendees: At least 14 trade ministers and the European Commissioner for Trade have confirmed their attendance.
- 🇨🇦🇨🇳🇷🇺🇬🇧 Pacts: Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal will hold bilateral meetings with countries India is negotiating trade pacts with, including Canada, China, Russia, and the UK.
- Importance: The G20 ministerial meeting provides a platform for India to conduct important bilateral meetings regarding its free trade agreements.
US President Joe Biden and other world leaders are set to visit India in September for the G20 Summit, with multiple hotels in Delhi-NCR being earmarked for attendees.
India's G20 presidency has shaped its global future and brought the country to the forefront of the international stage, with discussions at the NDTV G20 Conclave focusing on energy transition, clean growth, digital economy, and India's rising global influence.
India's External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, highlighted the importance of addressing the concerns of the global south in promoting economic growth and development during the B20 Summit, stating that India recognized the absence of the global south's voice in the G20 and took steps to rectify this by convening the Global South Summit.
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will attend the G20 leaders summit in New Delhi to focus on strengthening the global economy, supporting low- and middle-income countries, and building momentum for financing developing countries' clean energy transitions. She will also rally G20 allies to maintain economic support for Ukraine and deepen bilateral ties with India.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that the theme of India's G20 Presidency, 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,' is not just a slogan but a comprehensive philosophy derived from the country's cultural ethos. He also highlighted the importance of including the African Union in the G20 and expressed his belief that India will soon be among the top three economies in the world. The G20 Summit, to be held in September, will see increased security measures with 1,500 Delhi Police personnel deployed outside the venue.
The G20 Summit in Delhi will be attended by more than 40 world leaders, including President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, while Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be present.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the first Indian-origin prime minister of Britain, expressed his pride in his Indian roots and his strong connection to India and its people, emphasizing that the relationship between the UK and India will shape the future of both countries; he also highlighted the importance of a trade deal and the joint efforts to combat pro-Khalistan extremism.
Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has stated that India has prioritized its sovereign and economic interests while advocating for peace, emphasizing the importance of being restrained in using foreign policy for domestic politics. He also commented on India's handling of the Ukraine-Russia conflict, urging the G20 to focus on policy coordination rather than security differences. Additionally, Singh expressed optimism about India's future but stressed the importance of maintaining a harmonious society that celebrates diversity.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, accompanied by his wife Akshata Murty, the daughter of one of India's richest men, is hoping for a warm reception during his visit to Delhi to attend the G20 summit and advance trade negotiations with India, as well as rally support against Russia's blockade of Ukrainian grain.
India is hosting the G20 summit as Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks to establish himself as a global leader, but activist Arundhati Roy criticizes the event as a vanity event for Modi and raises concerns about the treatment of minorities in India.
President Biden aims to rally support for Ukraine and promote American investment in the developing world at the G20 summit in India, presenting new plans for a transit corridor connecting partner nations and unveiling World Bank reforms, challenging China's global trade expansion and providing a better option for emerging economies.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak believes that the G20 leaders can address the enormous challenges facing the world and provide leadership, as he attends the summit in Delhi alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who emphasized India's inclusive approach to the G20 presidency and proposed granting the African Union permanent membership.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and British counterpart Rishi Sunak discuss trade linkages and investment at the G20 Summit in New Delhi.
The G20 summit is set to feature strongmen leaders with human rights concerns, such as Mohammed bin Salman and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, reflecting a recognition that involving these countries is necessary for addressing issues like the Ukraine war and achieving consensus on global agreements.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during the G20 Summit in New Delhi, where they discussed progress in bilateral cooperation and the Free Trade Agreement negotiations.
US President Joe Biden described India's plan to build a rail and shipping corridor linking India with the Middle East and Europe as a "game-changing investment" during the G20 Summit, aiming to boost trade, transport energy resources, and improve digital connectivity.
India's External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, addressed the New Delhi G20 Leadership Declaration, which called for peace in Ukraine, highlighting its significance as a consensus among members amidst tensions and divergent views over the conflict; however, the declaration received criticism for not mentioning Russia and for its language referring to the war 'in Ukraine' instead of 'against Ukraine'.
G20 leaders have arrived in Delhi, India for the annual summit, where they will discuss global issues such as inclusive growth, digital innovation, and climate resilience.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visits the Akshardham Temple in Delhi during the G20 summit, expressing his pride as a Hindu and his support for PM Modi.
The International Monetary Fund's deputy director, Gita Gopinath, congratulates Prime Minister Narendra Modi on successfully hosting the G20 Summit in India, with the leaders discussing various crucial developments and signing a Memorandum of Understanding for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for global reforms and urged world leaders at the G20 summit to make global structures, including the UN Security Council, reflective of current realities and emphasized the need for India's permanent membership at the UNSC.
The 2023 New Delhi Summit of the G20 has been a success, with India demonstrating its ability to organize a global event; however, the summit's ability to produce substantial solutions to world problems, particularly the geopolitical crisis, is questionable. The summit managed to come up with a joint leaders' declaration, including language on Ukraine that accommodates all shades of opinion. The summit also focused on issues such as debt restructuring, climate change, renewable energy, artificial intelligence, and terrorism financing. However, the effectiveness of these actions will depend on whether countries actually implement them.
The G20 summit in New Delhi showcased India's growing economic and geopolitical influence, but also highlighted concerns about the country's Hindu nationalist government and its approach to press freedom as journalists were largely restricted from covering the event.
Leaders of the G20 summit in India overcame divisions on the Ukraine war and admitted the African Union to the bloc, while also announcing plans for a transport corridor and incremental progress on climate change.
The G20 Summit hosted by India was regarded as a success for the Modi government, and US President Joe Biden emphasized the importance of human rights and the role of civil society and a free press in his discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Biden also expressed the desire for a stable relationship with China and praised Modi's leadership and hospitality.
Superstar Shah Rukh Khan congratulates Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the success of India's G20 Presidency and praises India's ability to bring countries together and foster unity between nations for a better future for the world.
The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, praised the G20 Summit in Delhi for not allowing the war in Ukraine to overshadow the agenda and for consolidating the position of the Global South, preventing the West's attempts to "Ukrainize" the summit agenda.
The Indian G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant achieved a historic moment at the G20 Summit by securing 100% consensus on all issues, demonstrating India's ability to bridge between emerging markets and developed countries and bringing multilateralism back to center stage.
President Biden's recent trip to Asia for the G20 summit showcased his accomplishments in diplomacy but also drew attention to concerns about his age.
The G20 summit in New Delhi saw the admission of the African Union, the launch of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, and an absence of Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, signaling shifts in the international order and a move towards more inclusive organizations; however, Pakistan must address its internal issues to participate in these global trade networks and have its voice heard on issues like Kashmir.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced heavy criticism in the House of Commons for not securing stronger language against Russia in the G20 leaders' declaration and for the UK being excluded from a new economic corridor agreement, while also being questioned about efforts to secure the release of Scottish Sikh Jagtar Singh Johal and India's purchase of oil from Russia.
India's External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, has called for a shift in perspective regarding global trade and urged the world to move past the idea that the West is the "bad guy," highlighting the complexity of the global economy and the need to address the inequities of globalization. He also spoke about India's achievements at the G20 Summit and the threats posed by the Khalistan group in Canada.
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's attendance at the recent G20 summit in India, along with its inclusion in the China-dominated BRICS coalition and signing of the ship-to-rail economic corridor supported by President Joe Biden, highlights the complex web of alliances and economic opportunities arising from the rivalry between the US and China. These developments show the various economies caught between the two powers seeking to build their own strategic alliances and spheres of influence.