Title: Indian Diplomats Worked Tirelessly to Achieve Consensus on G20 Leaders’ Declaration
Subtitle: Meet the Four Key Players Behind India’s Successful G20 Summit
Date: September 10, 2023
In a significant achievement for India, four Indian diplomats from the Foreign Service worked tirelessly for months to reach a consensus among member countries on the New Delhi G20 leaders’ declaration. The team of diplomats, comprising Abhay Thakur, Nagaraj Naidu Kakanur, Eenam Gambhir, and Ashish Sinha, went through multiple rounds of negotiations and sleepless nights to present the communique with complete consensus.
Leading the team as the Sous-sherpa and the No. 2 to India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant, Abhay Thakur brought his experience as India’s envoy to Mauritius and Nigeria and his proficiency in the Russian language, which proved beneficial during the negotiations. Nagaraj Naidu Kakanur, a fluent Chinese speaker, played a pivotal role in negotiating the Ukraine conflict paragraphs. With extensive multilateral experience and a strong background in Yoga, Naidu brought valuable insights to the table.
Eenam Gambhir, the only woman officer in the team, currently serves as Joint Secretary G20. With her prior experience as a senior advisor on Peace and Security issues at the United Nations, Gambhir contributed her expertise in dealing with Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran. Ashish Sinha, another accomplished diplomat fluent in Spanish, had been negotiating for India in various multilateral settings over the past seven years.
The team faced numerous challenges during the negotiations, particularly regarding the Ukraine conflict paragraphs. To overcome these obstacles, they adopted a strategy of “divide and conquer,” engaging in one-on-one sessions over coffee with different diplomats to find common ground. This approach proved fruitful and helped them navigate the complex dynamics of diplomatic negotiations.
The process of reaching a consensus on the G20 leaders’ declaration was not without its setbacks. Soon after the previous summit in Bali, the consensus on Ukraine unraveled. However, the team quickly devised a new formulation and sought the support of Brazil and South Africa, fellow members of the Global South. Enlisting their assistance lent credibility to India’s arguments and facilitated the negotiations.
Finally, after months of sleepless nights and negotiations, the team achieved a consensus between the G7 and the Russia-China bloc. The final push came from phone calls between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin and a bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden. Once the Prime Minister, along with the National Security Advisor and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, gave their approval, the declaration was promptly made public.
Acknowledging the remarkable teamwork of the Indian diplomats, G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant expressed his gratitude to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for assigning these outstanding and brilliant officers to the team. He described their work as a brilliant demonstration of India’s ability to achieve consensus on a global issue that had previously eluded the world.
The successful conclusion of the G20 summit and the consensus reached on key issues showcase India’s diplomatic prowess and engagement on the global stage. The efforts of these four diplomats have not only brought credit to India but also demonstrated the country’s commitment to constructive engagement and collaboration among nations.
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