Home ›› 11 Mar 2023 ›› Editorial
The world has witnessed the devastation of Covid-19. After that the world started recovering from the disasters but just then Russia attacked Ukraine. On the backdrop of Ukraine's intention to join NATO, Russia attacked Ukraine on 24th February last year in the name of special operation. The Russian army is indiscriminately attacking the major Ukrainian cities including civilian installations. Towards the end of December 2022 Russian President Vladimir Putin said that any third power is more responsible for this war. Russia is trying to gain support of China, Turkey and Iran. On the other hand, the NATO military alliance and the Western world stand beside Ukraine.
Geographically, this war is going on in Ukraine but it has hit almost the whole world politically and economically. One year has passed but the international community has not yet taken any attempt to find a solution to this deadly armed conflict. This war has overshadowed the recently concluded G-20 finance ministers' meeting in Bengalru, India. Due to differences of opinion.no joint statement was not issued. Diplomatic sources apprehended the heat of this war on G-20 foreign ministerial level meeting scheduled on 2nd March. Russia and China's conflict with America and several European countries is increasing gradually.
Surprising host India, current president of G-20, Japan's Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi remained absent from the meeting. Budget session of Japanese parliament was assigned as the reason of his absence. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kenji Yamada represented Japan. A part of diplomatic sources think that absence of Japanese foreign minister has reduced the significance of the meeting. Japan does not want to get involved in any conflict in the current international economic instability. However, foreign ministers of Japan joined the Quad (America, Japan and Australia) meeting held in Delhi on 3rd of this month. Foreign ministers of four countries declared that they are on behalf of rule of law, sovereignty, geographical integrity and peaceful settlement of any international dispute.
In a statement China's ministry of foreign affairs said that G-20 is a key forum for international coordination. Therefore, it is important for G-20 to pay more attention to development and challenges to face the threats of international economy. China is ready to work with all countries so that the G-20 can convey a positive message from the multilateral forum on issues of food, energy security and development coordination.
This war, the worst in Europe after World War II, has badly affected world politics. The world community has not yet agreed on this war. All major organistions of the world, including the United Nations, have failed to take a strong stand against Russia. In the first G-20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting held from 22nd to -25th February this year in Bengaluru, India, the members of the group could not agree on this war (BBC, Reuters and Deutsche Welle). The US and G-7 allies at the meeting demanded that Russia should be clearly condemned for attacking its neighbour. Meanwhile, G-20 member Russia refers to its action in Ukraine as a special military operation rather than calling it a war.
G-20 officials told Reuters that host India also pressed for not using the word war in any statement. India has been maintaining a neutral position in the war and has refused to blame Russia for attacking on Ukraine. India is looking for a diplomatic solution to it but as recently increased its purchases of Russian fuel. In fact, India has purchased 35% of its fuel from Russia in February, 2022.
At the meeting, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said, “The group cannot retreat in any way from the joint statement agreed at the G-20 summit held in Bali, Indonesia in November, 2022. Either we have the same language or we have not signed the final statement.” German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said, 'G-20 will not back down from its earlier criticism of Russia. We need complete clarity. The incident in Ukraine is a war initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin.”
Such conflicts have become common at the 20-year old group in response to earlier economic crises. Normal activities of the group are being hampered recently due to disagreements between Western countries and other countries including China and Russia. A senior official of G-20 said that discussion on declaration of the meeting was difficult because Russia and China prevented the proposals of western countries. Moreover, as earlier, India is not interested to blame Russia.
Very recently, in a meeting presided over by Sweden, the European Union approved its 10th package of embargo against Russia on the 1st anniversary this war. EU authorities said in a tweet that EU member states will cooperate with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. Support to Ukraine will continue as long as needed.
Last week the G-20 foreign ministerial conference (conference of the world's 20 largest economies) began in Indian capital New Delhi. In addition to the G-20 group countries, foreign ministers of 9 invited countries including Bangladesh and representatives of 13 international organistions were present there. India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar hosted a dinner on 1st March. Foreign ministers of important members of the G-7 group, the United States, France, Germany and Japan, were not present there. However, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverley and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, attended the dinner. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Qing Gang arrived at Delhi at late night. Foreign ministers of France and Germany arrived next morning. Question has naturally arisen in diplomatic circles that whether foreign ministers of the United States, France and Germany skipped the dinner to avoid Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. However, Lavrov attended the dinner for a short time.
As the position of the Western world against Russia is strong, Russia is also determined to oppose them. EU foreign policy chief made it clear that the war must be condemned in unequivocal terms.
Before leaving her country for Delhi, German Foreign Minister Annalena Bierbock also said, "Russia's propaganda should be given a proper reply.” The anti-Russian western alliance is now looking at India's diplomatic skill and strategy. No joint statement was not published due to differences of opinion among G-20 countries. Yet, they think that India is the only country which can persuade Russia to stop this war.
The writer is a former Commissioner of Taxes. He can be contacted at chinmayprasunbiswas@yahoo.com
