09 September 2023: The Group of 20 nations adopted a consensus declaration on the opening day of a summit on Saturday, a major achievement for the host country India. Although the declaration avoided condemnation of Russia for the war in Ukraine, it called on all states to refrain from the use of force to seize territory.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi of host India announced that the declaration had been adopted.
“On the back of the hard work of all the teams, we have received consensus on the G20 Leaders Summit Declaration. I announce the adoption of this declaration,” Modi said.
The consensus came as a surprise to analysts as the group was deeply divided over the war in Ukraine.
“We reiterated our national positions and resolutions adopted at the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly (A/RES/ES-11/1 and A/RES/ES-11/6) and underscored that all states must act in a manner consistent with the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter in its entirety. In line with the UN Charter, all states must refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state. The use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible,” reads the declaration.
The declaration also called for the implementation of the Black Sea initiative for the safe flow of grain, food and fertiliser from Ukraine and Russia. Moscow pulled out of the agreement in July over what it called a failure to meet its demands to implement a parallel agreement easing rules for its own food and fertiliser exports.
“Improve access to medical countermeasures and facilitate more supplies and production capacities in developing countries to prepare better for future health emergencies,” the preamble added.
