The African Union Becomes a Permanent Member of the G20
During the two-day G20 leaders’ summit in Delhi, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the African Union (AU) has become a full permanent member of the Group of 20, making it the second regional organization to achieve this status after the European Union.
Modi emphasized India’s commitment to elevating the focus on the Global South within the G20 during its presidency this year. The inclusion of the AU aligns with India’s agenda to promote a spirit of togetherness and inclusiveness within and outside the country.
In his opening remarks, Modi highlighted the importance of addressing global challenges and proposed permanent membership for the AU as a symbol of inclusion. He welcomed AU Chairperson Azali Assoumani to join the conference table reserved for permanent members of the G20.
Weekend Agenda
The G20 leaders’ summit in Delhi aims to expedite climate action, address geopolitical impacts on food and energy security, increase lending to developing nations, reform global debt structures, and establish an international framework for cryptocurrencies.
Modi emphasized the need for new solutions to age-old challenges and stressed the importance of a human-centric approach in fulfilling global responsibilities.
India hopes to demonstrate the viability of its strategic partnership with the U.S. as an alternative for issues ranging from food security to debt resolution.
Prominent world leaders attending the summit include Brazilian President Lula da Silva, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French President Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and U.S. President Joe Biden.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are absent, as they objected to the wording regarding the war in Ukraine. Their respective countries are represented by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and China Premier Li Qiang.
The absence of Putin and Xi has raised concerns that a binding communique may not be issued at the end of the summit, potentially undermining India’s influence and domestic messaging.
Modi highlighted the trust deficit caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing conflicts, emphasizing the need to address this global crisis.