here.
The G 20 summit in India
concluded with a new member, the
African union, an ambitious plan
to create a railway from Europe
to the Middle East to India.
And an acknowledgment of the
atrocities in Ukraine but no
mention of the aggressor.
Russia and China signed off in
this final agreement.
But Russian president Vladimir
Putin and the president of China
were notably absent.
Earlier today I spoke with a
special correspondent who is in
New Delhi covering the g20.
As I mentioned, there were some
announcements about this summit.
On some of the key issues
leading into the summit, it
seems that there was not nearly
as much progress made.
>> There was a lot of debate a
discussion about what could
actually be achieved.
You have to remember that these
forms are built to have
consensus.
Whether it is on issues like
debt restructuring, there was
hope that leaders could come
together.
Even though they have agreed on
this, there is very little that
countries can do to hold each
other accountable.
One of the biggest issues that
dominated this meeting was the
war in Ukraine.
You had western countries,
particularly the g-7 nations led
by the U.S., who have been
pushing for stronger sanctions
against Russia.
But that was countered by Russia
supported by China.
Then you had a third bloc of
countries like India who have
tried to play both sides.
>> How does the Biden
administration rationalize or
justify this statement?
I think by all accounts it was
weaker than they wished it had
come out of the summit.
>> The white house said this
builds on what the U.S. And
other g-7 nations and most of
the western nations have said
about the war.
These declarations often mirror
the language of the host nation.
In that way this is a reflection
of what India has stood.
Not directly criticizing Russia.
The foreign minister of Ukraine
through social media said this
is nothing to be proud of,
criticizing this joint
declaration.
>> On one of the more
substantive announcements there
was Israel and shipping order
announced linking Europe, the
Middle East, and India.
Can you tell us more about that
announcement?
>> For India, this was a chance
to advance issues facing the
north and south.
Infrastructure and debt
restructuring were very much on
the agenda.
This has been seen as a counter
to China.
There belt and rode initiative.
That helps China expanded
influence politically and
financially across the north and
south.
What was interesting about this
announcement was the fact that
president Biden was very much
there during the announcement
supporting the countries because
symbolically for the U.S. This
was a chance to reestablish its
relationship with asian-pacific
nations and to counter China.
>> Notably, the president of
China and Russia were not there
for this summit.
You have any sense of how their
absence affected negotiations?
>> It symbolically gave the west
a much bigger stage.
President Biden was there making
sure that everybody noticed that
the U.S. Was there to meet with
adversaries and talk more.
To make sure the U.S. Commitment
to the asia-pacific region.
In many ways this was a bigger
platform for the U.S. In front
of the press around resident --
president XI.
>> This was a means to showcase
his leadership internationally.
>> It has become the most
populous nation.
The fifth largest economy.
Landing on the moon.
The way some of the glitz and
glamour around g20 and the
presidency must be criticized.
Opposition parties have pointed
out this.
That is the symbol of his
political party.
You cannot walk 100 meters
without seeing a g20 poster with
Modi's face on it.
People are saying this is like
an ad campaign.
There is also criticism about
the security arrangement.
Parts of New Delhi, the main
district where the summit was
held, were shut down.
No traffic, no shops.
For millions of people in the
city who only get to eat if they
work that day, they drive
people's cars, they deliver food
.
>> Thank you so much for being