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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also arrived in Johannesburg for this historic occasion. He will participate in all three sessions of the summit and will share his views on key issues such as inclusive development, the climate crisis, and artificial intelligence.
Three key world leaders absent from the G20
New Delhi: For the first time in its 20-year history, the G20 Summit is being held in South Africa. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also arrived in Johannesburg for this historic occasion.
He will participate in all three sessions of the summit and will share his views on key issues such as inclusive development, the climate crisis, and artificial intelligence.
Prior to the visit, PM Modi stated that this summit is also special for India because during its presidency in 2023, India helped the African Union become a member of the G20.
However, three of the world's most powerful leaders, US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Russian President Vladimir Putin are absent from this summit. The question arises: why are the three most powerful leaders in the world not attending this summit?
1. Trump distanced himself by raising the issue of atrocities against white farmers
The US is a founding member of the G20 and holds the next presidency, making its absence even more concerning. US President Donald Trump had previously stated that he would not attend the G20 Summit. He alleged that white farmers in South Africa were being oppressed.
Trump posted on social media claiming that white farmers in South Africa were facing racial oppression following the new land reform law. However, a day before the summit, Trump changed his stance. The US sent its acting ambassador, Mark D. Dillard, to attend the summit's final session.
2. Putin did not attend due to the threat of arrest
Russian President Vladimir Putin also did not attend South Africa. The reason for this is quite clear: the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant against Putin over the Ukraine war. South Africa is a member of the Rome Statute, meaning it is legally obligated to comply with the ICC warrant. This means that if Putin had attended the G20, South Africa would have been legally obligated to arrest him. This is why he also did not attend the 2023 BRICS Summit in South Africa.
3. Xi Jinping's health deteriorated, so he did not attend
Chinese President Xi Jinping will also be staying away from the G20 Summit this time. According to media reports, his health is not well, so he has sent Prime Minister Li Keqiang as his representative instead. China and South Africa have strong trade ties. Xi Jinping also visited South Africa for the 2023 BRICS Summit, making his absence even more noteworthy this time.
The absence of all three has increased India's importance
The absence of major leaders like Trump, Putin, and Xi Jinping has made India's role at this G20 Summit even more important. The world will be watching how PM Modi presents his views on global issues and amplifies the voices of emerging nations.
