Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written to G20 counterparts proposing full membership to the African Union on the upcoming Delhi Summit of G20 as requested by them. Presently, just one nation from the Union, that’s South Africa holds membership in G20.
Different international locations like US, France, Japan, China, and Indonesia have additionally supported full membership of AU within the G20.
The upcoming G20 Summit
India at present holds G20 Presidency and goes to host the upcoming G20 summit in September. As a part of India’s G20 presidency, PM Modi has been notably specializing in incorporating priorities of the African international locations within the G20 agenda.
The G20 is a casual group of developed and creating international locations. It goals to safe world monetary stability by involving middle-income international locations. It was based in 1999 after the monetary disaster of Asia in Nineties.
It includes 19 international locations (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, UK and US) and the European Union. The G20 members characterize round 85% of the worldwide GDP, over 75% of the worldwide commerce, and about two-thirds of the world inhabitants.
African Union and Its Take
The African Union (AU) is a continental physique consisting of 55 member states. It’s thought-about the top-most grouping representing the voice of Africa. It has been working in direction of making certain the progress and financial development of the African nations.
Many African leaders have argued that Europe is represented by 5 international locations in addition to the European Union (EU), and the African Union deserves comparable illustration as nicely.
In July 2022, then AU president Macky Sall proposed that the regional group ought to get a seat, saying that the absence of sufficient illustration from Africa could possibly be detrimental to the G20. He stated “Essentially the most urgent points — local weather change, pandemics, safety, and debt — are ones that each have an effect on Africa and on which Africa is able to contribute to options. Such a niche in African illustration can weaken the G-20’s credibility, traction, and representativeness”
India’s efforts could be seen in mild of its imaginative and prescient as a frontrunner of creating and underdeveloped international locations on the world stage. That is additionally in sync with India’s aspiration to grow to be a everlasting member of the UNSC, The place Delhi can sit up for help from Africa.
In January, India additionally hosted the Voice of The International South Summit the place this difficulty was below focus. The summit aimed to spotlight creating international locations’ perspective to the G20.
PM Modi has an upcoming go to to Washington DC this week and the problem is predicted to determine within the discussions between Modi and US President Joe Biden throughout their assembly as nicely.
There are additionally talks of the 4th India-Africa Discussion board Summit (IAFS) being held previous to the G20 summit in Delhi this September.
