The G20 leaders’ summit barely mentioned Ukraine, did not mention the Gaza peace plan or the conflict in the Middle East, and had a single line on terrorism — condemning it in all its forms and manifestations. This makes the G20 declaration in Johannesburg one of the weakest declarations in the history of G20 summits, which was boycotted by the US for the first time. So, the diplomats of G20 countries negotiated the declaration without the US being on board.
It however, said that all countries “must refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state” — an oblique reference to conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, the Middle East, and in the Indo-Pacific where China’s belligerent behaviour is visible.
“We further reaffirm that in line with the UN Charter, all states must refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state and that states should develop friendly relations among nations, including by promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion,” the G20 declaration said.
The 122-paragraph G20 declaration was adopted by world leaders, including PM Narendra Modi, who have gathered in South Africa, for the first time in the African region.
Referring to Ukraine, the paragraph said, “We concur that, guided by the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter in its entirety, we will work for a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Ukraine, as well as ending other conflicts and wars around the globe. Only with peace will we achieve sustainability and prosperity.”
Officials said India managed to echo the key outcomes of the Indian G20 presidency in the G20 South African Summit, where the leaders declaration ensured that the issues and priorities of the Global South are reflected.
From India’s point of view, terrorism in all its forms and manifestations has also been condemned. “We condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” the one-line sixth paragraph said.
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The declaration, which was adopted by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, said, “We, Leaders of the G20, who gathered in Johannesburg, South Africa… for the first time, G20 Leaders have convened in Africa. In the spirit of Ubuntu, we recognise that individual nations cannot thrive in isolation. The African philosophy of ‘Ubuntu’, often translated as ‘I am because we are’, emphasises the interconnectedness of individuals within a broader communal, societal, economic, and environmental context.”
Obliquely referring to the US tariff wars imposed by President Donald Trump and his disruptive moves, it said, “We meet against the backdrop of rising geopolitical and geo-economic competition and instability, heightened conflicts and wars, deepening inequality, increasing global economic uncertainty and fragmentation. In the face of this challenging political and socio-economic environment, we underscore our belief in multilateral cooperation to collectively address shared challenges. We note with distress the immense human suffering and the adverse impact of wars and conflicts around the world”.
It also said, “We affirm our unwavering commitment to act in accordance with international law including international humanitarian law and the Charter of the United Nations and its principle of peaceful settlement of disputes and in this regard, we condemn all attacks against civilians and infrastructure.”
India also pushed for a call to reform the UN Security Council that improves its representation. The G20 declaration said, “We pledge to reform the Security Council through a transformative reform that aligns it with the realities and demands of the 21st century… We call for an enlarged
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Security Council composition that improves the representation of the underrepresented and unrepresented regions and groups, such as Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean.”
On the empowerment of women and girls and in this regard, one of the key outcomes of India’s G20 presidency, it said, “We reaffirm our full commitment to the empowerment of women and girls and to urgently remove social and economic barriers to achieve gender equality. We encourage women-led development and ensure women’s full, equal and meaningful participation and leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life. We condemn all forms of discrimination against women and girls… We also recognise the role of women as agents of peace.”
