The India Story | G20 presidency: India’s big diplomatic moment?

The G20 meet in Bali, Indonesia, saw world leaders convene in the face of two important conflicts. While the Ukraine-Russia war looms large over all international spaces, the tension - which some call a ‘Cold War’ - between China and the USA showed signs of thawing in Bali.

Even as Joe Biden and Xi Jinping shook hands, and the G7 leaders convened for an emergency crisis response meeting to the Poland missile crisis, PM Modi had a packed diplomatic schedule. He held bilateral talks with the leaders of UK, France, Italy, and Australia, among others. He also officially took over the G20 Presidency from Indonesia, as New Delhi will host the premier economic forum next year.

India’s G20 Presidency presents it with a golden opportunity in the diplomatic arena. Should India play a more active role as mediator between Russia and Ukraine? Is it strategically placed to take advantage of US-China conflict? On this week’s episode of The India Story, Vikram Chandra discusses with Anil Wadhwa, former Ambassador and Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, and Happymon Jacob, Professor at the Centre for International Politics, Organisation and Disarmament, JNU.

Watch The India Story with Vikram Chandra, Fridays at 8PM.