Amitabh Kant's Inside Story: How India Took the Lead in the G20

Amitabh Kant, India’s G20 Sherpa, has shared the behind-the-scenes journey of India’s G20 Presidency in his book How India Scaled Mt G20: The Inside Story of the G20 Presidency (Rupa Publications). The book highlights the challenges, negotiations, and successes that shaped one of the most significant global summits held in New Delhi in September 2023.

The Road to Consensus: A Grueling Journey
Kant’s book emphasizes the monumental challenge of reaching a consensus among nations with differing interests. The New Delhi Leaders' Declaration (NDLD), a 37-page document, was finalized after 300 hours of discussions and over 250 bilateral meetings.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi played an active role, staying closely involved and receiving regular updates. Kant describes how the Prime Minister, recognizing the stakes, requested urgent situation reports every two hours, motivating the team to act swiftly.

Prime Minister Modi’s Leadership
The book recounts a pivotal moment on September 9, 2023, when Prime Minister Modi met with Kant at Bharat Mandapam. Kant shared concerns over unresolved conflicts, especially between the United States and China. Modi, focused on results rather than procedures, emphasized the need for a consensus and direct action.

This leadership approach set the tone for negotiations, driving the team to achieve tangible outcomes.

Geopolitical Challenges: Navigating Conflicts
Kant highlights the major geopolitical challenges faced during the summit, with bilateral issues threatening to derail the multilateral agenda.

Russia’s Demand for Sanctions
Russia demanded that the term "sanction" be included in the declaration, a request opposed by other nations. Kant details how the Indian team engaged in extensive discussions with Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Pankin, ultimately persuading Russia to back down after being told their position could result in a 19-1 vote against them.

China’s Visa Concerns
The head of China’s delegation raised a concern about visa restrictions imposed by the US. They opposed language in the declaration about the US hosting the 2026 G20 summit unless they received written assurances on visa issuance. Kant describes how a compromise was reached, with language revised to include the term "ensure" instead of "guarantee," securing China’s agreement.

Ukraine’s Absence: A Strategic Decision
Amid pressure from G7 countries to invite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, India made the strategic decision to limit the guest list to G20 leaders, maintaining a neutral stance. Dr. S. Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister, suggested a bold tactic: Kant told Russia that if they didn’t agree to the terms, Zelenskyy would be invited as the first speaker after Prime Minister Modi. This strategy convinced Russia to cooperate.

The Declaration’s Finalization: A Historic Achievement
By the second session of the summit, Prime Minister Modi announced that a consensus had been reached on the declaration—an accomplishment Kant calls a “no small feat.” Unlike the extended negotiations of the 2022 Bali Summit, India secured agreement on the first day.

The success was achieved through overcoming significant obstacles and navigating persistent objections, with India’s diplomatic agility playing a crucial role.

India’s Diplomatic Triumph: Lessons from the Summit
Kant’s book provides valuable insights into India’s diplomatic strategy and negotiation techniques during its G20 Presidency. From addressing the Russia-Ukraine conflict to resolving US-China issues, India demonstrated remarkable leadership and a commitment to multilateral cooperation.

Key Factors Behind the Success

• Assertive Leadership: Prime Minister Modi’s proactive involvement and timely updates kept negotiations focused.
• Strategic Negotiations: Bold tactics, such as leveraging Zelenskyy’s potential appearance, influenced key outcomes.
• Multilateral Focus: Despite bilateral tensions, India maintained the spirit of the G20 by prioritizing a unified result.