SUMMIT OF GLORY

India becomes the glue binding disparate opinions, from Ukraine war to welcoming Africa

- MANDIRA NAYAR

In the end, the success of a gathering is determined by an afterparty. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ensured that the G20 summit in Delhi will have one. A virtual G20 summit will be held in November before the presidency is passed on to Brazil. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has already assured his presence. Meanwhile, Modi’s millet menu passed the G20 test at the specially curated summit lunch. And Akshata Murthy went back with a Banarasi stole. The gifts were customised to suit the sensibilities of the guests and to reflect the relations that India has with each country.

India’s presidency has changed the composition of the G20, opening the doors for Africa and its 1.4 billion people. “The expansion to include the African Union is quite momentous,’’ said former ambassador Rajiv Bhatia, who authored a report on India-Africa relations. By 2030, every fifth person on earth will be African, so the continent’s inclusion has come at an apt time. “The inclusion of the AU changes the dynamics of the room,’’ said Harsh Pant of the Observer Research Foundation. “It shows India’s ability to lead and to move from ideas to action.” It is a tangible win for Modi’s efforts. Despite Covid and the global economic slump diverting some attention from India’s efforts to woo Africa, it opened 18 new missions on the continent. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has made six trips to Africa just this year. And the efforts are all set to continue.