G20 is on the agenda of the Indian-led Resina Dialogue

In the 8th edition of the Global India Conference on Geopolitics and Geoeconomics, the Raisina Dialogue was held in New Delhi from 2-4 March 2023, with the theme “Provocation, Uncertainty and Disruption: A Beacon in the Storm”. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's inauguration of the Raisina Dialogue coincided with the holding of the G20 foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi under the Indian presidency on the 1-2 of the same month.

This year's version of the Resina Dialogue is of particular importance. Because it comes with India assuming the rotating presidency of the Group of Twenty, - since December 1, 2022, which will continue until November 30, 2023, i.e. a year -; Where the G20 topped the agenda of the Resina Dialogue; After two discussion sessions that dealt with the dimensions of the group's work at the multilateral level, on the second day of the Resina Dialogue Conference, corresponding to March 3, 2023.

The periodic Indian presidency of the G20 coincides with multidimensional challenges of a global nature that may require collective action to address them, in light of an international system in which a state of chaos prevails at various levels. Resulting from many crises that imposed themselves on the international arena.

The G20 represents an international multilateral forum, and the Raisina Dialogue is a global multilateral conference. At that juncture, how can Indian foreign policy interact at a multilateral level, to manage and address international issues through its leadership of the G20; Where the members of the group include countries with different and multiple interests; It is governed by strategic considerations - at the bilateral, unilateral level - in international politics.

The meeting of the G20 foreign ministers under the presidency of India, with the leadership of New Delhi and one of the largest and pioneering global conferences in international affairs such as the “Resina Dialogue”, may constitute a global platform with diplomatic, political and economic dimensions, which may provide an opportunity for India to manage a variety of international issues in the system international.

The G20 is an "intergovernmental forum of the world's major developed and developing economies"; The Forum was formed in 1999; In response to emerging financial crises in the world. The group was raised to the summit in 2008 to address the global financial and economic crisis that arose from the same year. Collectively, the G20 accounts for more than 80% of global GDP, 75% of global trade, and 60% of the world's population; Making it the "main forum for international economic cooperation".

The Resina Dialogue was launched in 2016, as an annual global conference held in New Delhi; It is organized by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, in association with the Observer Research Foundation.

It is a conference "committed to addressing the most challenging issues facing the global community. It brings together heads of state, ministers and government officials, who are joined by thought leaders from the private sector, media and academia to discuss the state of the world and explore opportunities for collaboration on a wide range of contemporary matters." The Raisina Dialogue is thus "an inclusive and diverse forum with participants from different backgrounds".

Based on the "principle of pluralism" in the G20; The "Summary and Outcome Document" after the meeting of foreign ministers clarified the aforementioned group, with the members agreeing on the need to "enhance multilateralism" to face international challenges ranging in multiple international issues, namely: food and energy security, climate change and biodiversity, global health, cooperation for Development, New and Emerging Technologies, Counterterrorism, Drugs, Global Skills Mapping, Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment.

In Raisina's recent dialogue, the conference's agenda includes two discussion sessions on the G20. Both sessions asked a set of questions that might answer how the group operates, and the possibility of addressing issues at a multilateral level in an international system that is witnessing political and economic transformations.

A panel discussion titled: “The New High Scale: Realigning the G20 in a Changing World” asked a set of questions, namely, “How can a group traditionally driven by technocratic approaches to global finance reimagine itself as a platform where practical solutions to multidimensional problems can be identified and implemented?” How can G20 initiatives be redefined and made more inclusive and sustainable across multiple presidencies?'Are the conversations within the G20 accurately reflecting the broader fault lines in geopolitics?'

Within the framework of the G20 workstream, it is an informal "intergovernmental economic forum", rather than a political or strategic forum for discussing political issues in the international system. At the same time, the G20 is not an international organization governed by international law, and it does not rely on a binding legal basis, i.e. there are no official votes in the meetings based on agreements and legal clauses, and therefore its decisions are not legally binding on the member states of the group in the international system.

But at the same time, the G20 provides working meetings throughout the year, in addition to the annual summit meeting of heads and governments of members; This may allow the holding of diplomatic meetings that elicit political statements from powerful and influential countries on important issues in the international system. By shedding light on world issues among a group of 19 countries alongside the European Union.

By following the G20 work agenda and putting forward initiatives under "multiple presidencies", it is important to pay attention to the role of the member state in the group when it is part of the "troika" or presiding over the group. a term of three years; India - that is, before the end of November 2022 - was part of the Troika, which includes the presidency at the time (Indonesia), the previous (Italy), and the next (India). The troika currently includes the presidency (India), the former (Indonesia), and the next (Brazil).

As for the next "troika", India will be part of the troika. Being the former presidency of the Group of Twenty.

The aforementioned period of time may include follow-up of the group's work agenda, as well as an opportunity for member states to address issues in line with the group's objectives, through coordination between the countries of the "tripartite administration", along with the member states.

In that direction, there may be some ways for India towards the possibility of raising and addressing global issues that may allow relying on the legal dimension to address an issue; A work agenda can be set up in line with the agendas of legally binding international organizations; For example, the climate issue is one of the priorities of the Group of Twenty, while it is also a global issue for the United Nations and other global and regional organizations. At the same time, India has many climate plans, which may provide an opportunity for New Delhi to push its climate plans forward through a group. twenty; A good example of this is the “International Solar Alliance” - the Climate and Clean Air Coalition - which is a joint Indian-French initiative, which was launched during the Paris Global Conference, “during the twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change” in 2015 It is the first intergovernmental organization headquartered in India.

The International Solar Alliance may serve as a regional and global platform for cooperation at a multilateral level under India's G20 presidency; The Alliance's mission is, "to provide a dedicated platform for collaboration between countries rich in solar energy resources and the broader global community, including bilateral and multilateral organizations, industry and other stakeholders, to support the increased use of solar energy." Thus, the joint French-Indian leadership may allow the coalition to coordinate and work within the framework of the G20. Through the presidency of India and the member state (France) in the group, along with the possibility of cooperation with countries that have joined the "International Solar Alliance", and at the same time represent a member state of the Group of Twenty, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Argentina, Mexico and China, certainly in addition to Indonesia and Brazil; Being also part of the tripartite administration "troika" of the Group of Twenty.

It is worth noting that the International Solar Alliance has a legal personality. It is a treaty-based intergovernmental organization; The accession procedures require "signature and entry into force", and membership to join the coalition is open to member states of the United Nations, which may entail responsibilities and duties on the state, and perhaps from here it is possible to rely on the legal dimension to address an issue, such as the issue of climate change.

At the above-mentioned G20 ministerial meeting, according to the "summary and outcome document" of the meeting, the parties agreed on the need to "enhance multilateralism"; With reference to the main role of the current international governance structure in promoting international cooperation in global issues, stressing that “the United Nations must respond to all membership, in accordance with the purposes of its founding and the principles of its charter and adapt to the implementation of its mandate. Emphasizing the “need to revitalize multilateralism to address contemporary global challenges for the twenty-first century.”

As for how to address multilateral problems, building consensus in the G20 constitutes a major challenge for India's leadership of the group. As a result of the existence of differences and differences in viewpoints on issues prevailing in the world. But New Delhi may know how to find consensus policy among the G20 member states. India has historical experience by adopting a "non-aligned policy" in foreign policy. Through which it follows a "consensus strategy" to manage its issues in international politics, which may allow it to interact effectively at a multilateral level in global forums, including the G20. For example, it was published in news papers on the final statement of the G20 summit, which was held from 15-16 November 2022; The discussion revolved around whether or not to refer in the closing statement of the group summit to condemning Russia in its war with Ukraine. White House press secretary Karen Jean-Pierre said in a press conference on the 18th of the same month: "India played a key role in negotiating the summit declaration."

At the aforementioned G20 ministerial meeting, there was a discussion on the issue of "The war in Ukraine negatively affected the global economy." In the course of that controversy, a "joint statement" was not issued after the meeting, and a "summary and outcome document" was adopted, which clarified, "We reiterated our national positions expressed in other forums, including the Security Council and the General Assembly of the United Nations."..."Recognizing The G20 is not a forum for solving security problems, we are aware that security problems can have serious consequences for the global economy. Perhaps that case may form part of a typical answer to a question posed in the Resina Dialogue, "Do the talks within the G-20 accurately reflect the broader fault lines in geopolitics?"

As for the other discussion session, under the title: "The Emerging Consensus: The G20 and the Inevitability of Development." The session asked the following questions: “Do advanced members of the G20 feel that they have a significant interest in the development-oriented issues discussed by the grouping? Given that the G20 has proven its competence in dealing with issues related to the international financial architecture, how can these tools be directed towards the needs of Emerging economies? How can the G-20 escape those differences between the developed and developing worlds that have paralyzed or constrained other multilateral forums?

The main objectives of the G20 are, first, "to coordinate policies among its members in order to achieve stability and sustainable growth of the global economy. Second, to strengthen financial regulations that limit risks and prevent future financial crises. Third, to create a new international financial architecture."

The latest G20 Summit Statement, issued by the White House on November 16, 2022, clarified the global challenges resulting from multidimensional crises, including impeding the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. The statement continued to stress the collective responsibility, and the need for cooperation to address global challenges. "As great global economies."

According to the "Summary and Outcome Document" of the aforementioned G20 ministerial meeting, it was agreed on cooperation for development, emphasizing "achieving the sustainable development goals of the 2030 Agenda, and inclusive economic growth is critical...", as well as "the need to address the gap Funding for the implementation of the plan, and based on the spirit of pluralism, using all available tools and mobilizing all possible resources towards achieving development.

Earlier, on November 8, 2022, Prime Minister Modi referred to him in a conference on launching the slogan for the G20 meetings and issuing the website for India's presidency of the group, "to the state of crisis and chaos in the world, as a result of the effects of the global pandemic, conflicts and a lot of incompetence." economic certainty. "Our agenda will be comprehensive, ambitious, decisive and action-oriented. We will work to achieve all aspects of our 'One Earth, One Family, One Future' vision. Our effort will be to have no first world or third world, but only one," Modi said. He added that "India maintains close relations with developed countries on the one hand, and at the same time understands and expresses the views of developing countries very well."

Perhaps there may be a possibility for India to set a North-South consensus agenda for the G-20 member states; The troika administration of the G20 consists of three countries with dynamic emerging economies (India, Indonesia and Brazil); Perhaps “the issues that determine the priorities of the G20 and the methods for resolving them will change to reflect this reality,” which was indicated by the Resina Dialogue session.

In a likely Indian move, New Delhi may re-demand "the flow of money from rich industrialized countries to emerging economies to help them combat global warming"; At the 2022 United Nations Climate Conference, "India called on rich countries to fulfill their promise of $100 billion in annual climate financing to developing countries and urged them to increase the amount for coming years," a promise made by the developed countries most responsible for global warming in 2009. This undertaking enjoys unanimous agreement towards development and building consensus between the North and the South (the developed and developing worlds), which could constitute an important, rewarding and constructive step in the framework of developing the work of the "international financial architecture", through the G20 under the Indian presidency.

In conclusion, India's involvement in its foreign policy on a multilateral level through the presidency of the G-20 and the leadership of an international conference such as the Resina Dialogue may provide it with an opportunity to set an international agenda through which it can manage international issues. Through its diplomatic, political and economic capabilities. Guided by Prime Minister Modi's vision, "India's foreign policy is evolving to assume leadership roles on the world stage. The G20 presidency provides a unique opportunity for India to contribute to the global agenda on pressing issues of international importance."