As world leaders prepare to convene in New Delhi for the G20 summit on September 9, hopes for a unified approach to pressing global challenges are waning. This year’s meetings of the Group of Twenty (G20), under India’s presidency, have been marked by a stark and seemingly insurmountable divide concerning Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. The lack of consensus on this critical issue has cast a shadow over discussions related to food security, debt distress, and climate change cooperation. In an era where international collaboration is paramount, the G20’s inability to reach common ground threatens to undermine diplomatic efforts and exacerbate global tensions.

Absences of Key Leaders Raise Concerns

China’s decision to send Premier Li Qiang instead of President Xi Jinping, coupled with Russia’s confirmation of President Vladimir Putin’s absence, raises significant concerns about the summit’s efficacy in addressing pressing global challenges. With the absence of these two major players, it appears unlikely that a consensus will be reached on contentious issues, further limiting the summit’s potential impact.

This will be the first time that a Chinese president has missed a leaders' summit since the first edition was held in 2008, though in 2020 and 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Xi attended virtually.

Xi's skipping the West-heavy club of G20 right after attending the BRICS summit may be a visual illustration of Xi's narrative of 'East is rising, and the West is falling', as well as showing solidarity with Russia's President Putin who is also not attending.