• India’s foreign minister will meet his American, Chinese, and Russian counterparts on Thursday.
• The world’s largest democracy has been eager to position itself as a leader of emerging and developing nations.
• Modi alluded to the Ukraine situation, saying it was producing “deep global divisions.”

Foreign ministers from the world’s largest economies have gathered in New Delhi, laying the groundwork for a major test of Indian diplomacy as it attempts to negotiate tensions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, India’s foreign minister, will meet his American, Chinese, and Russian counterparts Thursday in the second high-level ministerial meeting under India’s Group of 20 (G20) presidency this year, hoping to find enough common ground to deliver a joint statement at the end of the summit.

With a population of more than 1.3 billion people, the world’s largest democracy has been eager to position itself as a leader of emerging and developing nations – often referred to as the global South – at a time when soaring food and energy prices as a result of the war are hammering consumers who are already dealing with rising costs and inflation.

Such views were front and center during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s opening speech on Thursday, when he spoke of the world’s various challenges, with less wealthy nations bearing the brunt of the burden.

“The experience of the last few years, the financial crisis, climate change, the pandemic, terrorism, and wars clearly shows that global governance has failed,” Modi said.

“We must also admit that the tragic consequences of this failure are being faced most over by the developing countries,” who he says are most affected by global warming “caused by richer countries”.

Modi alluded to the Ukraine situation, saying it was producing “deep global divisions.” But, he urged the foreign ministers to set aside their disagreements during their meeting on Thursday.

“We should not allow issues that we cannot resolve together to come in the way of those we can,” he said.

Analysts say India’s attempt to promote its agenda has been hindered by the war’s persistent fissures.

These disparities were on display last month in the southern Indian city of Bengaluru when G20 finance leaders failed to agree on a statement following their meeting. Russia and China both refused to sign the united declaration, which condemned Moscow’s invasion. It left India with the task of issuing a “chair’s report and outcome document” that summarised the two days of negotiations and recognized disputes.

According to analysts, New Delhi has skillfully handled its ties to Russia and the West throughout the war, with Modi emerging as a leader courted by all parties.

But as the war enters its second year, and tensions continue to rise, pressure could mount on countries, including India, to take a firmer stand against Russia – putting Modi’s statecraft to the test.

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