The Group of 20 (G20) major economies consists of the European Union (EU) and 19 other countries. This would make up about 85 percent of the global gross domestic product (GDP) and two-thirds of the world’s population
Indian PM has proposed a full membership to the African Union and become a part of the Group of 20 (G20). Mr. Narendra Modi also put forward India as the way out of supply chain woes before the G20 summit commences in New Delhi in September. On addressing the Business 20 Summit in New Delhi, Mr. Modi emphasized the vision of inclusiveness of the G20 and mentioned that with the same vision they have invited the African Union to become a permanent member of the G20.
The summit is set to take place from September 9-10 in New Delhi. The Group of 20 major economies consists of the European Union (EU) and 19 other countries. This would make up about 85 percent of the global gross domestic product (GDP) and two-thirds of the world’s population. But from the African continent, South Africa is the only member. US President Joe Biden in December stated his interest in the African Union to become a G20 member. He also added that the membership had been a long time in coming, but it’s going to come.
New Delhi has also called for including the pan-African bloc, which had $3 trillion GDP collectively last year. India being the host of the G20 summit this year, has clearly struggled to settle the disputes and differences among its members especially on the topic of the Russia-Ukraine war. India strategically refused to join the West’s policy of alienating Moscow. India has also become the biggest buyer of the Russian crude. G20 delegates in its previous meetings have not issued any information which also raises doubts regarding the September meeting.
The African Union currently has 55 members and has its headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital. The five military-ruled nations are now suspended.
New Delhi is currently boosting its manufacturing capabilities to compete with China and Mr. Modi emphasized that India is the solution to creating a trusted and efficient global supply chain after the sector has been disrupted by the pandemic. “The world before COVID-19 and after COVID-19 has changed a lot – the world cannot view the global supply chain as before,” said Narendra Modi.
“That is why today when the world is grappling with this question, I want to assure that the solution to this problem is India,” he added. The tensions between India and China have grown since 2020 after a Himalayan border clash that resulted in the death of 20 Indian soldiers and nearly four Chinese servicemen in 2020. Washington is using the current situation in an attempt to counter China and has been seeking to improve its relations with New Delhi.
Despite the pressure from the Western countries, India continues to engage with Russia and attended a summit of the BRICS. BRICS group of emerging economies in a way poses a threat to the Western powers. Brazil’s prime minister recently asked BRICS nations to create a new currency that would dethrone the dollar from ruling the global markets.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a face-to-face talk on the sidelines of the summit. Beijing mentioned that the leaders held an in-depth discussion to reduce and ease tensions between the two countries regarding the border issues.
BRICS has also invited six countries- Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates as its new members during the annual three-day summit held in Johannesburg on Thursday.