Global unity of urgent importance

The G20 Summit has concluded on a constructive note, with a breakthrough joint declaration alleviating fears that disagreements over the Russia-Ukraine war would prevent a consensus. The adopted Delhi Declaration of G20 calls for coordinated steps to support the global economy, along with expeditious and effective redressal of debt vulnerabilities of low- and middle-income nations. We congratulate India's diplomatic leadership and multilateral engagement in holding the successful summit, and commend its role in ensuring that the interests of the Global South are addressed.

Now more than ever, global unity is of urgent importance. At the summit, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stressed the need for strengthening global solidarity and adopting a coordinated response to address global crises. We reiterate the PM's concrete recommendations, specifically in urging the international community to ensure the return of the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals, the Rohingya, over a million of whom have been living in refugee camps in Bangladesh for the past six years. The Delhi Declaration called on "all states to uphold the principles of international law including territorial integrity and sovereignty, international humanitarian law and the multilateral system that safeguards peace and stability." We sincerely hope this will nudge more nations in the global fora to treat the Rohingya repatriation issue with utmost urgency and hold Myanmar's military junta accountable under international humanitarian law.

Although the Declaration has been criticised for not explicitly calling out Russia's aggression against Ukraine, we hope the agreement to restore peace will be upheld by all nation-states and that concrete steps will be taken to end this war that has disrupted global supply chains and frayed a tightly woven global economy. Similarly, we hope that the announcement to launch a historic India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor – a multinational rail and shipping link between India, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Israel – will open new doors and boost trade for smaller nations in the continent, rather than aid just a powerful few.

The consensus also adopted the Green Development Pact for a Sustainable Future, and committed to "urgently accelerate" actions to address environmental crises and challenges. We hope this commitment will lead to operationalising the Loss and Damage Fund at the upcoming COP28, which is integral for nations like Bangladesh that must face the brunt of climate change. The Delhi Declaration affirmed that no country should have to choose between fighting poverty and fighting for our planet, a situation we unfortunately do find ourselves in. The affirmation should be upheld by all nation-states to collectively pursue development models that enable nations to thrive equally.