Is India doomed to chair the most impotent G20 in modern times?

In the face of global crises, from a brewing nuclear arms race to recession and unrest, the G20 has been paralysed by rivalries and distracted by domestic challenges

Can India, whose reputation is at stake, lead a rebirth or will the grouping crumble and be swept aside?

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A man walks past a G20 display in Lucknow, India, on February 12. Under its presidency, India is expected to hold more than 200 meetings in the run-up to the G20 summit. Photo: AP

Abishur Prakash

Abishur Prakash is the founder of The Geopolitical Business, an advisory firm in Toronto.

Published: 3:30am, 29 Apr 2023Updated: 4:23am, 29 Apr 2023

As India prepares to host the Group of 20 in September, it might be the “last supper” for the grouping. G20, the poster child of globalisation, is plagued by a myriad of crises – none of which it can solve. Or can it?

Let’s start with nuclear weapons. A new nuclear arms race has begun, with Russia planning to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. Poland might be next, hosting American nukes. In the Indo-Pacific, South Korea and the United States are discussing joint control of nuclear weapons (with Japan having explored a similar idea).

As nuclear weapons spread, the world’s stability is at stake. Projections from Rutgers University found that nuclear war between India and Pakistan could cause global volumes of food, animals and fisheries to drop by 90 per cent.

Short of the West ending support for Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin is unlikely to abandon the plan for nukes in Belarus. And, as long as the North Korean (and Chinese) threat exists, South Korea and Japan will want more deterrence.