It is difficult to walk a few meters in New Delhi without coming across a huge billboard with the smiling face of Narendra Modi: the prime minister, dressed in his characteristic look (a traditional kurta made of silk paired with a Nehru vest), is on almost every bus stop shelter, on lamp posts and even on the doors of public toilets. Modi’s photo is accompanied by several messages of welcome to the most “ambitious and decisive” G20 summit that welcomes the “mother of democracy”. That is to say, India.
The grand forum of world leaders in Delhi is the culmination of an exceptional year for Modi. The 72-year-old veteran leader has led his country to become the most populous in the world while also being the fastest growing economy. He has deftly navigated the choppy geopolitical waters, balancing its good relations with the United States and Russiaat the same time that it has risen positions in global power games, taking advantage of the gap left by the growing division between Washington and Beijing.
He has also presented himself as the authoritative voice of the Global South, of developing economies, and has just put his country among the top space powers by achieving a historic moon landing at the south pole of the Moon. The g20 summitmore divided this year by the rudeness of Chinese President Xi Jinping and the always uncomfortable situation with Putin’s Russia, will consolidate an increasingly focused role for Modi in a new order in which India seeks to be a main actor.
“For too long, India was seen as a country with a billion hungry stomachs,” Modi said a few days ago in an interview. “Now it’s a billion aspirational minds and two billion skillful hands.”
This weekend’s meeting, as happened last year, will be strongly marked by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. So much so that, for the first time, country delegates warn that there may not have been a joint group communication. This was also warned a few days ago by the Russian envoy to Delhi, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov: “Moscow will block the final declaration if it does not reflect its position.”