New Delhi – India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, provided insights into the conspicuous absence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at this year’s G20 summit. Jaishankar characterized their non-attendance as a routine occurrence, also emphasizing that previous G20 meetings had also witnessed the absence of high-profile leaders.
Speaking in an interview with a news agency, Jaishankar remarked, “I think, at different points of time in G20, there have been some Presidents or PMs who, for whatever reason, have chosen not to come themselves. But that country and its position is reflected by whoever is the representative on that occasion…I think everybody is coming with a great deal of seriousness.”
China will be represented by Premier Li Qiang, marking the first instance of a Chinese president missing a G20 leaders’ summit since its inception in 2008. Xi Jinping had virtually attended the 2020 and 2021 G20 meetings during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Conversely, President Putin’s absence is linked to an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant related to alleged war crimes in Ukraine. Russia will be represented by its foreign minister at the G20 Summit.
The absence of these prominent leaders underscores the fluid nature of international diplomacy and the importance of representative delegations in reflecting a country’s stance on global issues. As world leaders converge in New Delhi this weekend, the focus remains on substantive discussions and diplomatic engagement, irrespective of the key absences.