AIR Spotlight: G20: Foreign Ministers’ Meet

AIR Spotlight is an insightful program featured daily on the All India Radio News on air. In this program, many eminent panellists discuss issues of importance which can be quite helpful in IAS exam preparation.

This article is about the discussion on: G20: Foreign Ministers’ Meet.

Participants:

1. Ashok Malik: Former Policy Advisor, Ministry of External Affairs
2. Omvesh Upadhyay: AIR Correspondent

Context – The G20: Foreign Ministers’ Meeting is taking place from 1-2 March 2023 in New Delhi under India’s G20 Presidency. Representatives of 40 countries including non-G20 members and multilateral organisations are invited by India. Russian Foreign Minister – Sergey Lavrov, US Secretary of State – Antony Blinken, French Foreign Minister – Catherine Colonna and Chinese Foreign Minister – Qin Gang are also expected to participate in the meeting.

Introduction –

G20 was formed in 1999 during the Asian financial crisis as a forum to discuss pressing global economic and financial issues to secure cooperation among developed and developing countries.

• In 2008, the practice of an annual summit-level meet was institutionalised.
• India is best placed to spearhead the G20 agenda,  due to its status as a developing country which has maintained its status as the fastest-growing major economy for a long time now. Among the global debt crisis and economic woes, India also continues to be a resilient bright spot with GDP projected to clock a 7% growth rate.
• The theme of India’s G20 presidency is ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ – One Earth, One Family, One Future.

G20: Foreign Ministers’ Meet

G20: Foreign Ministers’ Meet under India’s presidency is one of the largest gatherings of the foreign ministers hosted by any G20 presidency. Overall 40 delegations from all G20 countries and guest countries are expected to participate in the meeting. It also includes members from 13 international organisations.

• G20: Foreign Ministers’ Meet is the second ministerial meeting being held under India’s presidency. The first ministerial meeting concluded in Bengaluru, which was of the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting.

Significance –

The G20: Foreign Ministers’ Meet consists of two sessions –

• The first session will focus on the need for reforms of multilateral bodies, strengthening multilateralism, food and energy security as well as development cooperation.
• The second session will focus on counter-terrorism and emerging threats and also on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and global skill mapping.

Strengthening Multilateralism –

• The global order has undergone dramatic changes since the Second World War due to economic growth and prosperity, demographic dividends, technological developments, the emergence of new economic powers, decolonisation, etc. 
• There is a need for reforming multilateralism to adequately address contemporary global challenges of the 21st century and to make global governance more inclusive, representative, transparent, accountable and effective. The world of today is very different from what it was when the United Nations was created in 1945.
• India has been spearheading efforts to reform the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and make it a more inclusive organisation.

Russia-Ukraine War

The conflict that occurs in one part of the world has the ability to destabilise the whole world economy.

• The war in Ukraine has adversely impacted the global economy – constraining growth, increasing inflation, disrupting supply chains, heightening energy and food security and elevating financial stability risks.
• There are deep divisions between the US-led west and the Russia-China combine over the Ukraine conflict. 

New & Emerging Technologies

There is a growing threat from the misuse of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes.

• New information and communication technologies have been used by terrorists for planning and execution of terrorist attacks.
• To counter such threats, strengthening of international cooperation through exchange of best practices, sharing of information is required. International cooperation based on respect for international law and led by states and competent authorities, supplemented by engagement with various stakeholders where appropriate, would be most effective.

Global Skill Mapping

Digital Economy and Green Transitions are changing the nature of work which lead to new jobs and tasks. Skilling, re-skilling and up-skilling of the workforce including women, youth and persons with disabilities is essential for reaping the fruits of technological progress. Well integrated workforce with adequate skills benefits origin and destination countries alike.

Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR)

India’s robust HADR mechanism has effectively provided relief both in India and other countries. India has a multi-pronged approach which includes prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response, relief and rehabilitation.

• It is essential to provide humanitarian assistance guided by the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence.
• Operation Dost was launched immediately by India to aid Turkey and Syria following the deadly earthquakes that struck on February 6, 2023.
• Operation Rahat was an operation of the Indian Armed Forces to evacuate Indian citizens and foreign nationals from Yemen during the 2015 military invasion by Saudi Arabia and its allies. 
• India has provided relief to a number of countries like Sri Lanka, Mozambique, Maldives, Nepal, Indonesia, Madagascar, etc. when required.
• There is a need to strengthen international cooperation on humanitarian assistance and disaster risk reduction to leverage capabilities of countries for extending support in a coordinated manner.  

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