Global South prevented G20 agenda from being stirred towards Ukraine: Russian Foreign Minister

Global South prevented G20 agenda from being stirred towards Ukraine: Russian Foreign Minister

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed his appreciation for the efforts made by countries from the Global South during the G20 Summit in preventing the agenda from being shifted towards Ukraine. Lavrov made these remarks during a briefing in New Delhi at the conclusion of the two-day meeting of the G20 nations, which was held under India’s presidency on September 10.

According to Lavrov, the consolidated position of the Global South and the active participation of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) were instrumental in addressing the real concerns and issues faced by the Global South. He noted that this was perhaps the first time that the G20 had demonstrated unity on behalf of the Global South.

Lavrov also acknowledged the active involvement of BRICS partners in shaping the G20 agenda. He emphasized that this collective stance of the Global South was successful in preventing Western countries from diverting the agenda towards Ukraine at the expense of addressing the pressing issues faced by countries in the Global South.

In essence, Lavrov’s remarks highlight the importance of the Global South’s unity and engagement in the G20 Summit to ensure that the summit’s focus remains on addressing the specific challenges and concerns of these countries rather than being dominated by unrelated issues.

The New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration, issued during the G20 Summit on September 9, notably refrained from directly mentioning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Instead, it adopted a more generic tone by acknowledging the “immense human suffering and the adverse impact of wars and conflicts around the world.” This approach to the declaration was observed as a departure from the customary practice of addressing specific geopolitical issues in international declarations.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed his satisfaction with the G20 Summit’s outcome under India’s presidency, describing it as a “success.” Lavrov highlighted two key aspects of this success. Firstly, he emphasized that the summit represented a significant milestone by providing a clear guiding direction for the participating nations, implying that the G20 leaders reached consensus on important global priorities and objectives.

Secondly, Lavrov noted the active role played by the Indian presidency in genuinely consolidating the G20 members, possibly for the first time in the history of the organization. This recognition suggests that India played a pivotal role in fostering unity and cooperation among the diverse group of countries within the G20.

Lavrov’s positive assessment of the summit and the absence of explicit references to the Ukraine conflict in the declaration indicate that the G20 meeting prioritized addressing other critical global challenges, such as economic issues, environmental concerns, and broader geopolitical dynamics. The G20 typically encompasses a wide range of topics, with the specific agenda varying from year to year based on the host country’s priorities and the consensus reached among member nations.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed Russia’s commitment to working towards the goals set at the G20 Summit. He noted that Brazil is set to assume the G20 presidency next year, and Russia intends to continue building on the positive developments achieved during India’s presidency.

Lavrov highlighted the importance of the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration in advancing the representation of the Global South in the world. While acknowledging that there is still much work to be done, he stated that Russia will persist in strengthening these positive trends. This commitment extends to Brazil’s presidency in the upcoming year and South Africa’s presidency in 2025.

Furthermore, Lavrov mentioned that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had proposed hosting a G20 virtual session in November. This session would provide an opportunity for countries to assess the progress made in implementing the agreements and commitments reached during the G20 Summit. Lavrov welcomed this initiative and emphasized its significance in ensuring that the goals and initiatives discussed at the summit are effectively followed through and reviewed.

In summary, Russia intends to remain actively engaged in the G20 process, continuing its efforts to advance the interests of the Global South and build on the achievements of the New Delhi Summit, with a particular focus on the upcoming presidencies of Brazil and South Africa. The proposed G20 virtual session in November will serve as a platform to monitor and review the implementation of summit agreements.