Is President Trump pushing G-20 to the crossroads?

The unprecedented, undiplomatic assault by one founder member on another fellow member doesn’t augur well for G-20. Unlike UNSC, in G-20, no one has a veto power.

- SURENDRA KUMAR

Born in 1999 in the aftermath of Asian financial crises of 1997-98 to address economic and financial stability in the world, initially comprising the finance ministers and governors of central banks but subsequently raised to the level of the head of state or government by the US in 2009 following the financial crises of 2007-2008, presently accounting for 85% of global GDP, 75% of global trade and 2/3 of the world population, G-20 has covered a long distance.

The idea behind its foundation was the realization that major global crisis can’t be solved by the developed countries alone without co-opting emerging economies. Presently, its membership includes 19 countries: G-7 and countries from Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East, selected probably by the size of the GDP, EU and AU admitted at G-20 2023 Summit in Delhi. It’s the only organisation of its kind which brings the developed and developing countries on the same platform and runs without a permanent secretariat; its presidency rotates and the Troika: the past, the present and the incoming presi-

dent maintain continuity; its decisions are taken on the basis of consensus. As the presidency rotates and there is no veto power vested in any member, it provides a degree of prominence, visibility and opportunity to the current president to steer the discourse and flag issues which are relevant to it and its region. Over the years, its agenda has expanded and included trade, climate change, sustainable development, energy, environment, agriculture, health, terrorism, corruption, women empowerment, and raging international conflicts like Ukraine and Gaza, besides the original financial economic issues. While this phenomenon provides an opportunity to draw attention to global commons and discuss issues which impact many countries and regions, it also introduces potential for disagreements and controversies which makes it much more difficult to reach a consensus.