New Delhi Leaders' Declaration: 200 Hours Of Negotiations, 15 Drafts And 300 Meetings Behind Consensus On Ukraine, Says G20 Sherpa

The G20’s adoption of the New Delhi Declaration amidst a growing rife on the Ukraine conflict and managing climate change is being viewed as a massive feat for India.The adoption was announced by the Prime Minister on Saturday. Following the adoption of New Delhi Declaration, PM Modi announced, "I have received good news. Due to the hard work of our team, consensus has been built on New Delhi G20 Leaders' Summit Declaration. My proposal is to adopt this leadership declaration. I announce to adopt this declaration. On this occasion, I congratulate my Sherpa, ministers, who worked hard for it and made it possible.” 

Leaders and officials expressed that the ‘historic document’ recognised PM Modi’s attention to human-centric globalisation. Union Minister Hardeep Puri in an interview with NDTV stressed on the G20 New Delhi Declaration being remembered as a major milestone in the creation of a post-Covid, human-centric development model, to eventually create a new international order. 

Praises also poured in for those behind the drafting of the historic declaration- Amitabh Kant and his team.

"Well done @amitabhk87! Looks lile the IFS lost an ace diplomat when you opted for the IAS! "Negotiated with Russia, China, only last night got final draft," says India's G20 Sherpa on 'Delhi Declaration' consensus. A proud moment for India at G20!," Congress leader and MP Shashi Tharoor tweeted.

At a press briefing held on Saturday, India’s G20 sherpa Amitabh Kant said, "When we started the presidency, PM Modi said that India's presidency should be inclusive, decisive, and action-oriented. The New Delhi Declaration has 83 paras in all, and all 83 paras have 100 per cent consensus across all countries. There are eight paras on geopolitical issues titled 'Planet, People, Peace and Prosperity'. All those eight pars have 100 per cent consensus".

"All countries have unanimously supported the New Delhi Leaders Declaration. This is one declaration without a single footnote and without any Chairs Summary. This is a complete statement with 100 per cent unanimity," he added.

Kant also credited his team for working day in and out to make the dream possible.The four Indian diplomats from the Foreign Service are being lauded for working their fingers to the bone to curate the New Delhi G20 leaders’ declaration with complete consensus on all developmental and geopolitical issues. Having burnt the midnight oil, the diplomats meticulously engaged with member countries for months before the summit and continued storming heads till the D-Day on Saturday.  It took precisely two hundred hours of non-stop negotiations, 300 bilateral meetings and 15 drafts to attain consensus on the Ukraine conflict, to subsequently pave the way for G20’s adoption of New Delhi Declaration. 

“The most complex part of the entire #G20 was to bring consensus on the geopolitical paras (Russia-Ukraine). This was done over 200 hours of non -stop negotiations, 300 bilateral meetings, 15 drafts. In this, I was greatly assisted by two brilliant officers - @NagNaidu08 & @eenamg," Kant posted on X, formerly Twitter.