Multilateralism is in crisis today: PM Modi at G20 Foreign Ministers of G-20

India

oi-Prakash KL

Prime
Minister
Narendra
Modi
on
Thursday
said
that
multilateralism
is
in
crisis
today
and
global
governance
has
failed
in
the
last
two
years.

He
began
his
speech
by
saying
that
India
selected
the
theme
of
‘One
Earth,
One
Family,
One
Future’ for
its
G20
Presidency
as
it
signals
the
need
for
unity
of
purpose
and
unity
of
action
the
G20
meeting
today
will
reflect
this
spirit
of
coming
together
for
achieving
common
and
concrete
objectives.

“We
must
all
acknowledge
that
multilateralism
is
in
crisis
today.
The
architecture
of
global
governance
created
after
the
Second
World
War
was
to
serve
two
functions.
First,
to
prevent
future
wars
by
balancing
competing
interests.
Second,
to
foster
international
cooperation
on
issues
of
common
interests.
The
experience
of
the
last
few
years-
financial
crisis,
climate
change,
pandemic,
terrorism,
and
wars
clearly
shows
that
global
governance
has
failed
in
both
its
mandates.
We
must
also
admit
that
the
tragic
consequences
of
this
failure
are
being
faced
most
of
all
by
the
developing
countries.

After
years
of
progress,
we
are
at
risk
today
of
moving
back
on
the
Sustainable
Development
Goals.
Many
developing
countries
are
struggling
with
unsustainable
debt
while
trying
to
ensure
food
and
energy
security
for
their
people.
They
are
also
the
ones
most
affected
by
global
warming
caused
by
richer
countries.
This
is
why
India’s
G20
Presidency
has
tried
to
give
a
voice
to
the
Global
South.
No
group
can
claim
global
leadership
without
listening
to
those
most
affected
by
its
decisions,” a
statement
from
his
office
said.

The
meeting
is
held
at
a
time
of
deep
global
divisions,
he
said.
“As
Foreign
Ministers,
it
is
but
natural
that
your
discussions
are
affected
by
the
geo-political
tensions
of
the
day.
We
all
have
our
positions
and
our
perspectives
on
how
these
tensions
should
be
resolved.
However,
as
the
leading
economies
of
the
world,
we
also
have
a
responsibility
towards
those
who
are
not
in
this
room,”
the
Indian
Prime
Minister
stated.