Journalism of Courage
Acknowledging differences and framing contentious issues in a language that leaned towards commonality rather than conflict, India Saturday pulled off the diplomatically challenging task of reaching a consensus between the G7 grouping and the Russia-China bloc on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This helped clear the way to arrive at a joint communique at the G20 leaders’ summit that was considerably more expansive and elaborate than last year’s Bali declaration.
Announcing this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his remarks on ‘One Family’, said: “…Good news has just arrived. With our teams’ hard work and your cooperation, consensus has emerged on New Delhi G20 Leaders’ Summit Declaration…I propose that the Leaders’ Declaration be adopted. I announce adoption of the Declaration.”
When the G20 Leaders adopted the document, leaders were seen clapping and thumping the table. The Prime Minister thanked his team including ministers, G20 Sherpa and all officials for their hard work.
The section on the Ukraine conflict was spread over seven paragraphs in the Delhi declaration compared to two paragraphs in the one in Bali. But it was carefully crafted as it did the diplomatic tightrope-walk in the language between the Russia-China bloc and the West, led by the G7.
It neither mentioned Russian “aggression” nor did it “condemn” the Russians for the war in Ukraine. Instead, it carefully navigated the Russia-Ukraine war with India leading negotiations with help from Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia. Help from these three countries from the Global South is said to have been key to the breakthrough.
Under the subhead, “For the Planet, People, Peace and Prosperity”, the communique started with, “We note with deep concern the immense human suffering and the adverse impact of wars and conflicts around the world.” This was a very acceptable paragraph for all sides.
Similarly, the last line — “Today’s era must not be of war” is taken from the Bali declaration, which was an echo of what Prime Minister Narendra Modi had told Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Then it said that “Concerning the war in Ukraine, while recalling the discussion in Bali, we reiterated our national positions and resolutions adopted at the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly (A/RES/ES-11/1 and A/RES/ES-11/6) and underscored that all states must act in a manner consistent with the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter in its entirety. 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.”
“The use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible,” the declaration said, a formulation same as in Bali.
The use of the phrase “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” is a new formulation, and is directed at all the powerful, especially P-5 countries including China. This was one of the paragraphs where developing countries wanted the large, powerful countries to adhere to.
The paragraph that is said to have been underscored by Russia and China flagged the purview of the G20 platform. “Reaffirming that the G20 is the premier forum for international economic cooperation, and recognizing that while the G20 is not the platform to resolve geopolitical and security issues, we acknowledge that these issues can have significant consequences for the global economy.”
The declaration addressed one of the concerns of the Global South touched off by the war in Ukraine by using a broadbrush of economic distress post pandemic and acknowledging differences. “We highlighted the human suffering and negative added impacts of the war in Ukraine with regard to global food and energy security, supply chains, macro-financial stability, inflation and growth, which has complicated the policy environment for countries, especially developing and least developed countries which are still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic disruption which has derailed progress towards the SDGs. There were different views and assessments of the situation.”
The declaration also tackled the topic of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which was initially resisted by Moscow. While it was mentioned in Para 8 of the Bali declaration, it now found prominence in the geopolitical paragraphs, as it said, “We appreciate the efforts of Türkiye and UN-brokered Istanbul Agreements consisting of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Russian Federation and the 3 Zero Draft Secretariat of the United Nations on Promoting Russian Food Products and Fertilizers to the World Markets and the Initiative on the Safe Transportation of Grain and Foodstuffs from Ukrainian Ports (Black Sea Initiative), and call for their full, timely and effective implementation to ensure the immediate and unimpeded deliveries of grain, foodstuffs, and fertilizers/inputs from the Russian Federation and Ukraine. This is necessary to meet the demand in developing and least developed countries, particularly those in Africa.”
The declaration flagged attacks on military and civilian infrastructure, which was one of the most contested topics. “In this context, emphasizing the importance of sustaining food and energy security, we called for the cessation of military destruction or other attacks on relevant infrastructure. We also expressed deep concern about the adverse impact that conflicts have on the security of civilians thereby exacerbating existing socio-economic fragilities and vulnerabilities and hindering an effective humanitarian response,” it said.
Calling on all states to uphold the principles of “international law including territorial integrity and sovereignty,” the declaration underlined “international humanitarian law, and the multilateral system that safeguards peace and stability.”
“The peaceful resolution of conflicts, and efforts to address crises as well as diplomacy and dialogue are critical,” the declaration said as it underlined the value of co-operation. “We will unite in our endeavour to address the adverse impact of the war on the global economy and welcome all relevant and constructive initiatives that support a comprehensive, just, and durable peace in Ukraine that will uphold all the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter for the promotion of peaceful, friendly, and good neighbourly relations among nations in the spirit of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’.”
The Bali declaration had recorded the UN resolutions that deplored in the strongest terms the aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine and demanded its complete and unconditional withdrawal from the territory of Ukraine. It had also said that “most members strongly condemned the war in Ukraine”.
It added: “The use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible. The peaceful resolution of conflicts, efforts to address crises, as well as diplomacy and dialogue, are vital. Today’s era must not be a war.”
On arriving at a consensus on the Ukraine issue, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, “This is a declaration of 83 paras, there are a lot of subjects covered, but obviously because of the ongoing conflict and the different views on it, considerable time was spent in the last few days with regard to geopolitical issues which were mostly centred around the war in Ukraine”.
Asked which countries helped forge consensus on the Ukraine conflict, he said, “Actually… Everybody helped. Everybody came together to forge a consensus, but emerging markets took a particular lead on this and many of us have a strong history of working together. Bear in mind that actually, you have four developing countries in succession for the G20 presidency…Indonesia, us, Brazil and South Africa…I would say, rather than who helped, the common landing point was fashioned out.”
On disagreements, Jaishankar said, “It is a very polarising issue and there is a spectrum of views, we are being transparent…In all fairness, it was only right to record what was the reality in the meeting rooms and that is the sense that is sought to be captured.”
On the new formulation on Ukraine, Jaishankar said: “Regarding the change in language on the Russia-Ukraine conflict from the Bali Declaration, Bali was Bali, New Delhi is Delhi. Many things have happened since the Bali Declaration.”
“One should not have a theological view of this. The New Delhi Declaration responds to the situation as it stands today. The New Delhi Declaration responds to the concerns of today just like the Bali Declaration responded to the concerns of that time,” he said.
