G-20 Summit: How much impact will it have on national, regional, and global politics?

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's special invitation to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has created a new milestone for Bangladesh by participating in the G-20 Summit. Being the sole South Asian guest country at this year's G-20 Summit is not only a mark of respect but also holds significant geopolitical and economic importance for Bangladesh.

 On the first day of this conference, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting on September 9. At this summit, India has expressed its confidence in the current government of Bangladesh. In this bilateral meeting, three memorandums of understanding (MOUs) have been signed between India and Bangladesh, and some significant projects in Bangladesh with India's involvement have been inaugurated. Through these initiatives, Bangladesh-India bilateral relations have strengthened even further. This marks a significant diplomatic achievement for Bangladesh, and it comes at a pivotal time in the country's international relations.

 
During this summit, US President Joe Biden took a selfie with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her daughter Saima Wazed. This selfie has sparked widespread discussions in Bangladesh's political landscape. Supporters of the government, political activists, and political analysts are widely sharing the photo of this selfie on social media. Some argue that this selfie serves as evidence that the Sheikh Hasina government has established strong relations with the United States. On the other hand, opposition voices claim that this selfie is an attempt to confuse the countrymen and that it won't change the United States' current visa policies or previous allegations.

The question remains whether the lighthearted selfie with Joe Biden, Sheikh Hasina, and her daughter will have any impact on the ongoing diplomatic dynamics between Bangladesh and the United States. The answer is not straightforward because the diplomatic relations between two countries depend on various factors related to mutual interests. Therefore, it cannot be conclusively said that this selfie has significantly altered the previous distance between Bangladesh and the United States, as claimed by some supporters of the Awami League, or that it is deemed insignificant, as argued by the opposition.

Indeed, from a diplomatic perspective, the meeting, conversation, and lighthearted picture with President Joe Biden at the G-20 summit carry significant implications. It underscores the genuine interest and attention that President Biden has towards Bangladesh, and this is reflected in the personal rapport established during the encounter. Furthermore, the selfie demonstrates the trust and respect towards Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's leadership. While there may be differences between the United States and Bangladesh in certain areas, both nations are keen on advancing cooperation, as evident from this cheerful photograph.

The recent G-20 summit in New Delhi has provided a new opportunity for India to assert itself as a prominent voice among the developing countries of South Asia, a role it has been cultivating over the past few years. The culmination of the G-20 summit in the Indian capital has allowed their collective voice to resonate on the global stage.

With the summit set to take place in India before the general elections in 2024, it is seen as an event that could further empower India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and bolster his leadership. Meanwhile, domestically, Narendra Modi has successfully capitalized on the presidency of the G-20 summit to enhance his image, showcasing India's importance and prestige on the world stage. This highlights the significance of the global G-20 summit in shaping India's position and the stature of Prime Minister Modi both on the international and domestic fronts.

The most significant aspect of the upcoming G-20 summit is the current global geopolitical and economic reality. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the heightened tensions among superpowers have significantly altered the global landscape. It is in this context that the G-20 summit is being held, and experts believe it has a unique significance.

Many countries are grappling with the aftermath of the pandemic and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has ripple effects on their economies. They are increasingly concerned about the impact of the war and its economic consequences. Rising food and energy prices are also causing concerns worldwide, adding to the complexities of the global situation.

In this situation, the meeting of world leaders in India has undoubtedly strengthened India's position in global politics. The absence of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin in person, although they sent their delegates, has sparked some controversy surrounding the summit. US President Joe Biden had expressed his disappointment ahead of the summit, stating that he would not be meeting with Xi. The decision by China and Russia not to send their top leaders reflects the ongoing complexities in global politics, primarily their strained relations with the United States.

However, the decision by China and Russia not to send their presidents has indeed created a significant ripple in global politics. This is because many leaders of other countries have participated in the summit, and the absence of the Chinese and Russian Presidents could have played a pivotal role in addressing the global political crisis. Their presence at the summit and their commitment to finding solutions to global crises would have been highly symbolic and impactful for their respective images on the world stage.

China and India have been in a face-off situation over the Himalayan region for the past few years. In particular, tensions escalated when China released a map last week that included India's Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin region as part of Chinese territory. On the other hand, China is also engaged in various disputes and conflicts, including its military campaign in Ukraine, human rights violations in Xinjiang, claims over Hong Kong and Taiwan, and its assertive posture in the South China Sea, which have led to tensions with the United States and other nations.

On the other hand, China is facing increasing restrictions on its access to global information technology markets. Beijing has been particularly irked by the gradual imposition of various economic sanctions and restrictions against them. In response to these developments, Chinese President Xi Jinping made a statement during the BRICS summit, saying, "The days of Western dominance are over. Developing countries must break free from unilateral coercion." The ongoing crisis in Ukraine has further exacerbated the adversarial positions between the United States and Russia, and there is no indication of a significant shift in this matter. The absence of the Chinese and Russian Presidents at the G-20 summit has only added more intensity to these disputes.

Similarly, during this year's G-20 summit, a tourism group meeting was held in Srinagar, the capital of the Indian-administered region of Kashmir. Through this event, India aimed to show the international community that Kashmir is not a disputed territory but an integral part of India. As a result, under the leadership of Narendra Modi, India's influence at the international level has significantly increased, and the country's ordinary citizens now believe in India's enhanced stature on the world stage. Recent research by the American think tank Pew Research Center has supported this claim, indicating that 68% of Indians now have confidence in India's role on the global stage, a significant increase compared to the past. Moreover, in the context of hosting the G-20 summit, "The Economist" published an article titled "Resounding Success of India."

Perhaps the biggest challenge for India in hosting the G20 Summit was to issue a 'Joint Declaration' with the consent of the member countries. Over the past year, various meetings of the group had witnessed disagreements among member countries on issues such as the Russia-Ukraine crisis or climate change, making it difficult to achieve a unanimous declaration. However, on the evening of September 9th, at the venue of the India Habitat Centre in Delhi, a joint communiqué based on a one hundred percent consensus was successfully released, marking a notable achievement.

So, India has successfully overcome the challenging test of achieving unanimity in the joint communiqué during this G-20 summit. Because, like Russia, China, the United States, and Britain, India has managed to convince everyone in a joint communiqué to bring these countries closer, this is India’s significant diplomatic success. Many experts believe that at the international level, India's diplomacy has proven itself in this G-20 summit. Besides, India's role in bridging the gap between the East and West, the recent developments in the North and South, is the most significant gain that India has demonstrated in this summit.

At the end of the G-20 summit on September 10, following the summit, President Joe Biden, during a press conference in Hanoi, Vietnam, made remarks that have sparked new discussions. Joe Biden stated, "During his recent visit to India, he discussed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi the human rights situation in India and the need for a free press. There have also been detailed discussions with Narendra Modi on how to further strengthen the India-U.S. relationship and make it more robust."

Prior to this, there were multiple reports from White House sources that despite a request for a joint press briefing from the US side following the Modi-Biden meeting in Delhi, India had not agreed to it. At that time, the Indian side had stated, "The visit of the US president to India was not a full-fledged bilateral visit, which is why there was no separate arrangement for a joint press briefing by the American president and the Indian prime minister. Until the end, President Biden himself has made it clear in Vietnam that the way media or the press is being handled in India is not entirely satisfactory to the US administration."

We are aware that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's actions have repeatedly sparked controversy regarding human rights situations in India. There have been significant incidents of human rights violations discussed, and there has been ongoing debate about it. Allegations of human rights abuses have also been raised against the presidents of Russia and China. In the context of today's global politics, incidents of human rights violations are increasingly raising concerns among conscious individuals in most countries.

The G-20 summit did not place significant emphasis on human rights issues, raising questions about the commitment of global leadership to human rights. Nevertheless, regardless of the ongoing debates and discussions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made every effort to make the G-20 summit a milestone in India's history. Now, this summit holds a place in the country's history and is seen as a platform through which India can have an impact on global politics in the days to come.