
Amitabh Kant’s New Book Sheds Light on PM Modi’s Role in G20 Consensus
Amitabh Kant, India’s G20 Sherpa, has revealed key moments from the 2023 G20 Summit in his latest book, How India Scaled Mt G20: The Inside Story of the G20 Presidency. The book provides a detailed account of the intense negotiations that culminated in the adoption of the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration, highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pivotal involvement.
Kant narrates a significant exchange with PM Modi on the morning of September 9, 2023, just an hour before the summit commenced at Bharat Mandapam. The Prime Minister inquired about the unresolved issues in the declaration, particularly the conflict between the US and China. Modi, Kant recalls, emphasized the importance of achieving consensus and urged his team to deliver results, bypassing procedural challenges.
A Diplomatic Balancing Act
The declaration, finalized after over 300 hours of negotiations and 250 bilateral meetings, was a product of meticulous diplomacy. PM Modi stayed deeply involved, requesting frequent updates to monitor progress.
One of the major hurdles involved Russia’s demand to include the term “sanctions” in the document. After prolonged discussions with Russian representatives, including Deputy Minister Alexander Pankin, India successfully persuaded them to withdraw the demand, ensuring broader agreement.
Another critical challenge came from G7 nations, which urged India to invite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the summit. India, however, maintained its stance on limiting participation to G20 leaders. Strategic messaging to Russia, hinting at potential fallout if Zelenskyy were invited to speak immediately after Modi, played a decisive role in resolving this issue.
US-China Visa Dispute
Kant also recounts a dispute between the US and China over visa issues for Hong Kong officials, which threatened to derail progress. Intense backroom negotiations with representatives from both nations led to a compromise, replacing the contentious term “guarantee” with “ensure,” thereby enabling agreement.
A Historic Achievement for India
Achieving consensus on the first day of the summit was a significant milestone, especially compared to the 2022 Bali Summit, where agreement was reached only at the last moment. The New Delhi Declaration not only showcased India’s diplomatic capabilities but also underscored Modi’s leadership in steering the discussions to a successful outcome.
Kant’s book offers an insider’s perspective on how India managed to navigate complex geopolitical challenges, ensuring the G20 Summit’s success while elevating the country’s global stature.
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