The G-20 is close to a consensus that rejects “an era of war” and nuclear threats | International

The two-day summit of the G-20 that begins this Tuesday in the Balinese town of Nusa Dua advances towards consensus conclusions that affirm that “the current era must not be one of war” and consider “inadmissible the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons”, according to the agencies Reuters and France Presse. Diplomatic negotiators have found an agreement on a text that is expected to be endorsed by the leaders. The document contains the firm condemnation of the war in Ukraine by “most” of the members of the group, but notes that at the meeting “there were other points of view” about the situation and the sanctions. The text also refers to a UN General Assembly resolution condemning Russian aggression.

Pending its formalization, this is the language that seems to have allowed a consensus that many experts considered unlikely on the eve of the summit in view of the deep divisions. Multiple factors seem to have pushed in the direction of achieving a common declaration in times of strong international division. Some elements point to the fact that neither China nor India wanted to accept a break to support Russia, and that Moscow seems willing to accept language that is not ideal – including the fact that it talks about war, a word that the Kremlin avoids – in order to not appear isolated in a footnote.

Significantly, China’s leader Xi Jinping criticized in the morning session the instrumentalization of food and energy for geopolitical purposes, a statement certainly unfavorable for Russia. Xi also positioned himself against unilateral sanctions, in a dart against the West, but the phrase about food and energy in the middle of the summit is new and does not bode well for the Kremlin.

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, highlighted the breakdown of global supply chains and insisted that it is necessary to return to the path of diplomacy and a ceasefire in the Ukraine war. The two Asian powers, who abstained from the declaration condemning the Russian invasion in the UN General Assembly, have no interest in seeing the geopolitical confrontation reach a breaking point, of disruption of the global economic system. For this reason, they have been converging towards a consensus.

isolation of russia

In the G-20, three clearly differentiated types of speeches were heard, according to sources present at the meeting. On the one hand, the vast majority of the leaders, including those of the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia and all the Europeans, including the Spanish Pedro Sánchez, with harsh criticism of Putin and his invasion of Ukraine. On the other hand, those who are placed in a more intermediate position, the clearest of them China, but also India, Brazil or Mexico, which do not criticize Russia so openly. In fact, to avoid diplomatic problems, the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, was placed among his colleagues from Mexico and Brazil, in such a way that he avoided taking photos with some of the presidents most critical of Moscow. These countries, according to the same sources, evaded the harshest criticism of Russia, but neither did they support its position at any time, which is why its isolation was very clearly seen.

And the third position, that of Russia, was the same as always. Lavrov, who spoke after Volodimir Zelensky, assured that he had to answer what the Ukrainian president had said. The Russian minister stated that the war in Ukraine seeks the “denazification” of this territory, accused Western countries of a “new colonialism” and blamed them for the food crisis due to the sanctions imposed on Russia. Even so, some saw some positive change in Lavrov, due to two fundamental elements. First, because everything indicates that a communiqué may be signed, contrary to what happened in the G-20 of foreign ministers held in July, which ended without an agreed text. And second, because Lavrov, contrary to what he did at that earlier forum in Bali and at the UN Security Council meeting in New York in September, did not get up when he finished his speech and listen to all the other participants. , including Zelenski, for which he endured harsh criticism.

For his part, President Zelenski took advantage of his speech via video call to present a decalogue of measures that should be promoted by the international community, starting with strengthening nuclear, food and energy security, and the release of prisoners and deportees, among other issues. In the address, the Ukrainian president insisted on the concepts of restoring the territorial integrity of his country and the global order.

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