Diplomatist Magazine Diplomatist January 2019 | Page 15

GLOBAL CENTRE STAGE
United States reiterates its decision to withdraw from the Paris
Against this backdrop, Indian Prime Minister Narendra
Agreement, and affi rms a commitment to economic growth,
Modi participated in two trilateral meetings: the fi rst with
energy access, and security while protecting the environment.
Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in
Article 21 signals the profound distaste of U.S. President
which the leaders stated their fi rm commitment to make the
Donald Trump for what he refers to as the “ideology of
Indo-Pacifi c a region for shared economic growth, prosperity,
globalism,” a concept he endorsed in his address to United
and security. Even though Modi observed at the Shangri-La
Nations General Assembly in September 2018, and which
Dialogue in Singapore in June 2018 that the Indo-Pacifi c
denotes the existence of an agenda
region is not directed against any
whose aim would be to erode state
country, it is commonplace to
sovereignty by means of global
assess that China’s rapid rise is the
governance devices. Later in
main driver of the endorsement of
December, and drawing from the
this concept.
very same arguments, the United
A few hours later, however,
States, this time accompanied by
Modi joined Chinese President
several other states, would refuse
Xi Jinping and Russian President
to sign the U.N. Global Compact
Vladimir Putin for another trilateral
on Migration.
meeting, in which they reportedly
In this context, it could well
discussed enhancing mutual
be argued that the mere existence
cooperation in international forums
of a joint declaration is no minor
and declared on the importance
achievement on the part of the
of reform and strengthening of
2018 G20 Chair, even though there is not much G20 constitutes a major multilateral institutions. On this occasion, India’s
in it that could be construed as a mandatory multilateral forum for outreach to China and Russia can be seen in the
commitment on any specifi c issue. But once
light of Trump’s behaviour, construed by many
global governance,
again, the previous month saw the APEC
observers as a challenge to the global economic
Summit in Papua New Guinea end without even economic cooperation, order.
and international
a fi nal declaration.
Considering that India will be the 2022
The bilateral or trilateral meetings on the
G20
Chair (notably to coincide with the 75th
political dialogue. In
sidelines were indeed the object of much more
anniversary of its independence), the role of
the past few years, India as a mediator between the great powers
observation and comment. After a year of hard
however, the G20
negotiations, United States President Donald
will likely also increase.
Trump, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, came under persistent
In hindsight, the G20 Summit as a multilateral
and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
forum acknowledged certain challenges while
criticism, with many some others were addressed in bilateral and
finally signed the United States-Mexico-
Canada Agreement (USMCA) on November observers regarding it trilateral meetings in the sidelines, which is
30 in Buenos Aires, as previously agreed. as a venue for talk shop no more nor less what international forums
The new agreement is meant to supersede the
are meant for, after all. Multilateralism was
and photo operations still endorsed by many leaders during the G20
former North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA), although it still needs to be ratifi ed without any outcome of Summit. Although many diffi culties previous
by each country’s legislature.
to the Summit remain, they did not prevent a
substance.
As was expected, U.S. President Donald
joint multilateral declaration, albeit moderate in
Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held
its ambition, and some trade issues left for the
the most important bilateral meeting, in which they came
sidelines found resolution (decisive in the case of USMCA,
around to an apparent truce in their trade-related disputes,
at least momentary in the case of U.S.-China commercial
and a freeze in planned tariff increases as a consequence,
dispute). For Argentina it was important to show its prowess
although post-G20 minor-level negotiations are still taking
as G20 Chair and, all things considered, did a remarkable job.
place as of this moment. The U.S.-China commercial dispute
is usually linked to a narrative of a major conceptual crisis
* The author is a Master in Geopolitical Studies (Carolina
of liberal international order based on free commerce and
University, Prague, Czech Republic). He is member of the
Working Group on India and South Asia, Asian Affairs
multilateralism, but also to an upcoming U.S.-China grand-
Committee, Argentina Council for International Relations
strategy competence for world leadership in the near future,
which will also take place in geographic scenarios such as
(CARI) and he is Director and co-founder of Instauras
Consulting. He is also the author of diverse publications.
the Indian and Pacifi c Oceans.
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 7 • Issue 1 • January 2019, Noida • 15