G20 Summit 2023: Bharat’s Diplomatic Masterstroke

The world is lauding Bharat’s comprehensively successful G20 Summit 2023 as India led the member nations in making several key agreements that will shape our future. Many people are talking about the aesthetically beautiful and futuristic infrastructure of Bharat Mandapam and the grand manner in which India hosted all member and guest nations in New Delhi. While this has its own value and importance, we must look at the biggest announcements that have been made at the G20 Summit 2023 and how Indian diplomacy has hit a masterstroke pertaining to Bharat’s national interests, which align with global welfare.  

India – Middle East – Europe Economic Corridor  

The India – Middle East – Europe Economic Corridor is perhaps the most important announcement that has been made at this summit. This corridor will ramp up manufacturing, supply chain and overall economic activity, unlike anything we have seen. This includes a massive rail and port network that will stretch from India to the Middle East and all the way to Europe. This is a big setback for China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which was deliberately announced in the Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir by China to target India’s sovereignty. China will also lose its dominance in the global supply chain with this initiative, which will directly affect China’s economic growth and put India in the front seat.   

Biofuel Alliance   

As the calls for green energy get louder around the world, Bharat has used this opportunity to top economies like the USA and Japan to make heavy investments in this sector in the Biofuel Alliance. Biofuel is made out of crops like sugarcane and corn, and India has made member nations pledge investments and implementation of biofuel energy in the near future as per this alliance. Bharat has aimed to become a net zero carbon emission country by the year 2070, and this is one of the single biggest steps towards the cause, as various nations will adopt the policies of the Biofuel Alliance in years to come.   

Bringing Africa to the big table  

Being a developing nation itself, Bharat understood the struggles faced by all the countries of the African Union as their voice remains unheard at the elite international forums. African nations nations’ points of view remain largely ignored despite it being nearly 18% of the world world’s population. However, Bharat chose to become a trusted partner and used its global strength to make space for the African Union as a member of the G20. The picture of African Union President Azali Assoumani hugging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and thanking him after the announcement went viral all over the internet. Bharat thus proved its staunch friendship with Africa.  

Diplomatic cornering of China  

Chinese President Xi Jinping tried to snub India by opting out of the G20 Summit 2023 but ended up damaging his own diplomatic relations with the world. As I mentioned earlier, the USA, European nations, Saudi Arabia and the UAE signed an agreement with India to create an economic corridor as a counter to China’s Belt and Road initiative. In addition to this, PM Modi and other heads of state also subtly voiced their dissent against China’s ulterior motives while exporting goods to the world by calling for transparent and trustworthy global supply chains. During this summit, Italy’s PM Giorgia Meloni also signaled to China’sChina’s representative that Italy would be leaving their BRI program in the coming months. This has collectively caused a huge setback to China.   

Upholding our strategic partnership with Russia  

The Western nations and Russia are at loggerheads regarding the Ukraine conflict and have been aiming to use the G20 forum for diplomatic attacks. To avoid a possible diplomatic confrontation in person, Putin skipped this summit and sent their Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, instead. Russia even threatened that it would refuse to sign the G20 declaration if it is used to criticise Russia by Western nations like the United States, France and other European countries. However, Bharat’s skilled diplomats worked exceptionally well with all the member nations to avoid any major criticism of Russia from their front by urging them to focus on climate change and restraining China instead. This in itself is an excellent diplomatic achievement for Bharat, as it managed to shield its age-old partner Russia from absolute diplomatic isolation.