https://sputniknews.in/20230908/india-outsmarts-zelensky--prevents-him-from-derailing-the-g-20-agenda-academic-4115551.html
India Outsmarts Zelensky & Prevents Him From Derailing the G-20 Agenda: Academic
India Outsmarts Zelensky & Prevents Him From Derailing the G-20 Agenda: Academic
Sputnik India
New Delhi acted smartly to purposefully deny Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky an opportunity to spread his "propaganda" against Russia by not inviting him to this weekend's G-20 summit in Delhi.
2023-09-08T15:22+0530
2023-09-08T15:22+0530
2023-09-08T15:33+0530
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New Delhi acted smartly and purposefully denied Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky an opportunity to spread his "propaganda" against Russia by not inviting him to this weekend's G-20 summit in Delhi.Dr. Ajay Patnaik, a former dean of the School of International Studies at India's renowned Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), made these remarks hours after New Delhi announced that the G-20 summit declaration was ready to be adopted following extensive deliberations between the Sherpas of member states in the absence of Zelensky in the South Asian country.Patnaik observed that Zelensky had been trying to appear in many of these forums in Europe and elsewhere to voice his opposition to Russia.The academic added that the Ukrainian leader had addressed the parliaments of some of the Western capitals he visited and was always looking for opportunities where he could present himself with world leaders and make his point.However, the retired JNU professor stated that this time he did not get an invitation despite lobbying hard with his Western partners. This was because G-20 was under India's presidency and New Delhi did not want to be seen as hostile to Moscow, its long-time strategic partner.India Does Not Want to be Controlled by the WestMoreover, Patnaik suggested that India did not want to be seen as controlled by Western powers as it was not a country that could be pushed to do something by the US and its allies.Notably, the international relations expert pointed out that the G-20 forum was not meant to push the political agenda of any country as it was an economic bloc focused on the growth of the world. Despite that, Western countries had been trying to politicize the Ukraine conflict and condemn and corner Russia in every forum."But as the G-20 summit was being held under India's presidency, which has deep ties with Russia, New Delhi has stayed clear of any such rhetoric being propagated by the West," Patnaik explained.He said that this was very much evident from the meetings of Health, Foreign, and Finance Ministers that passed by without issuing a joint statement as India was not in favour of denouncing Russian actions in Ukraine.Zelensky Would Have Transformed G-20 Summit Into a Propaganda ExerciseBesides, India realized that a joint statement was not possible if there was criticism of Moscow on the Ukraine issue, and keeping that possibility in mind, New Delhi thought that it would become a propaganda exercise if Zelensky came to Delhi and addressed the summit."Because he could have said anything condemning Russia, which could have shifted the focus away from the core issues of G-20. That's why India acted smartly and deliberately did not invite Zelensky to the summit," Patnaik asserted.He elaborated that G-20 was established in 1999 following the Asian economic crisis in the late 1990s, with its main aim being to save the world from such economic crises in the future. Subsequently, it transformed into G-20 from G-7, including many emerging economies and powers into its fold.That was the objective behind its formation until 2014 when Crimea chose to merge with Russia.Western Nations Have Often Raked Political Issues in G-20Since then, Patnaik reckoned, Western powers have often tried to bring up their issue and politicise the forum. But the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had repeatedly said that the primary objective of G-20 was to focus on arranging funding for development goals, debt restructuring, inclusion of the African Union (AU), and giving voice to the members of Global South."One issue hijacking the whole agenda of G-20 does no good to the forum or to India's image," he underlined.The geopolitics pundit mentioned that if one wanted to discuss security issues there was a platform called United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to deliberate on such matters."Why use G-20 platform which was formed with a completely different objective to achieve - to push the development agenda across the world - and why should it allow itself to become a stage for promoting Ukraine's accusations on Russia," he asked.Patnaik stressed that it was good that India did not invite Ukraine to G-20 summit as it would have led to sidelining of main agenda of discussions in Indian capital.India's Middle-Path in G-20Meanwhile, retired Indian diplomat Rajiv Bhatia, currently associated with Mumbai-based strategic affairs think tank Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations said New Delhi was treading a "difficult" but middle path under its presidency of G-20.On the other hand, he conveyed that it was also very clear that certain basic human principles were involved here. And that was the reason why Indian diplomats helped G-20 diplomats in Bali last November to develop those two paragraphs, which are known as Bali paragraphs.''Now, this year, under the Indian Presidency, neither the West nor Russia and China agreed on retaining those two paragraphs, and therefore a new formulation is required,'' Bhatia commented.United Stance Needed to Resolve Global ChallengesHe described it as normal in terms of his diplomatic experience, that when a large conference like G-20 took place, the reconciliation of differences took time. It required patience, and it normally happened at the last minute.
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New Delhi acted smartly and purposefully denied Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky an opportunity to spread his "propaganda" against Russia by not inviting him to this weekend's G-20 summit in Delhi.
Dr. Ajay Patnaik, a former dean of the School of International Studies at India's renowned Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), made these remarks hours after New Delhi announced that the G-20 summit declaration was ready to be adopted following extensive deliberations between the Sherpas of member states in the absence of Zelensky in the South Asian country.
Patnaik observed that Zelensky had been trying to appear in many of these forums in Europe and elsewhere to voice
his opposition to Russia.
The academic added that the Ukrainian leader had addressed the parliaments of some of the Western capitals he visited and was always looking for opportunities where he could present himself with world leaders and make his point.
"That is why the G-20 summit was very important for Zelensky. He got an invite last year in Bali where he hijacked the whole thing, making the Ukraine issue the central theme of the summit in Indonesia," Patnaik told Sputnik India.
However, the retired JNU professor stated that this time he did not get an invitation despite lobbying hard with his Western partners. This was because G-20 was under India's presidency and New Delhi did not want to be seen as hostile to Moscow, its long-time strategic partner.
India Does Not Want to be Controlled by the West
Moreover, Patnaik suggested that India did not want to be seen as controlled by Western powers as it was not a country that could be pushed to do something by the US and its allies.
Notably, the international relations expert pointed out that the G-20 forum was not meant to push the political agenda of any country as it was an economic bloc focused on the growth of the world.
Despite that, Western countries had been trying to politicize the Ukraine conflict and condemn and corner Russia in every forum.
"But as the G-20 summit was being held under India's presidency, which has deep ties with Russia, New Delhi has stayed clear of any such
rhetoric being propagated by the West," Patnaik explained.
He said that this was very much evident from the meetings of Health, Foreign, and Finance Ministers that passed by without issuing a joint statement as India was not in favour of denouncing Russian actions in Ukraine.
Zelensky Would Have Transformed G-20 Summit Into a Propaganda Exercise
Besides, India realized that a joint statement was not possible if there was criticism of Moscow on the Ukraine issue, and keeping that possibility in mind, New Delhi thought that it would become a propaganda exercise if Zelensky came to Delhi and addressed the summit.
"Because he could have said anything condemning Russia, which could have shifted the focus away from the core issues of G-20. That's why India acted smartly and deliberately did not invite Zelensky
to the summit," Patnaik asserted.
He elaborated that G-20 was established in 1999 following the Asian economic crisis in the late 1990s, with its main aim being to save the world from such economic crises in the future. Subsequently, it transformed into G-20 from G-7, including many emerging economies and powers into its fold.
That was the objective behind its formation until 2014 when Crimea chose to merge with Russia.
Western Nations Have Often Raked Political Issues in G-20
Since then, Patnaik reckoned, Western powers have often tried to bring up their issue and politicise the forum.
But the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had repeatedly said that the primary objective of G-20 was to focus on arranging funding for development goals, debt restructuring, inclusion of the African Union (AU), and giving voice to the members of Global South.
"One issue hijacking the whole agenda of G-20 does no good to the
forum or to India's image," he underlined.
The geopolitics pundit mentioned that if one wanted to discuss security issues there was a platform called United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to deliberate on such matters.
"Why use G-20 platform which was formed with a completely different objective to achieve - to push the development agenda across the world - and why should it allow itself to become a stage for promoting Ukraine's accusations on Russia," he asked.
Patnaik stressed that it was good that India did not invite Ukraine to G-20 summit as it would have led to sidelining of main agenda of discussions in Indian capital.
India's Middle-Path in G-20
Meanwhile, retired Indian diplomat Rajiv Bhatia, currently associated with Mumbai-based strategic affairs think tank Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations said New Delhi was treading a "difficult" but middle path under its presidency of G-20.
"I think India as the chair is trying to walk a very difficult middle path. On the one hand, it is very clear that public condemnation of Russia has to be avoided because the problem is complex, because people need to understand why Russia did what it did," Bhatia expressed.
On the other hand, he conveyed that it was also very clear that certain basic human principles were involved here. And that was the reason why Indian diplomats helped G-20 diplomats in Bali last November to develop those two paragraphs, which are known as Bali paragraphs.
''Now, this year, under the Indian Presidency, neither the West nor Russia and China agreed on retaining those two paragraphs, and therefore a new formulation is required,'' Bhatia commented.
United Stance Needed to Resolve Global Challenges
He described it as normal in terms of his diplomatic experience, that when a large conference like G-20 took place, the reconciliation of differences took time. It required patience, and it normally happened at the last minute.
"This is exactly what is happening and I'm hopeful that despite the public posturing, everybody will eventually fall in line and agree with Prime Minister Modi that by taking a united stand, the world will be ableto resolve its global challenges," the former Indian ambassador to Myanmar concluded.
