The African Union formally joined the Group of 20 as a permanent member on Saturday, at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The expansion of the G20 is a significant diplomatic victory for Modi, who faces national elections next year and has used hosting rights for this year’s forum to burnish his image as an international statesman.
In his opening address to the summit, Modi said that India had proposed giving the AU permanent membership of the G20, and that he believed there was “everyone’s agreement” on this.
He then invited the AU chairperson, Comoros President Azali Assoumani, to take his seat as a permanent member.
Assoumani took his seat among world leaders at the invitation of India’s foreign affairs minister S. Jaishankar.
The AU’s membership of the G20 is a major step forward for the African continent, and is seen as a recognition of its growing economic and political importance.
It is also a sign of India’s commitment to strengthening ties with Africa.
The G20 is a forum of the world’s 20 largest economies, and is responsible for discussing and coordinating economic policies.
The expansion of the G20 comes at a time when the world is facing a number of challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and climate change.
In his opening remarks, Modi also called for a “world of trust”. He said that the war in Ukraine had “deepened the trust deficit” in the world, but that it was possible to overcome this if the world could unite against common challenges.
The G20 summit is taking place in Delhi, India, and is expected to last for two days.
The leaders of the G20 countries are expected to discuss a range of issues, including the global economy, climate change, and security.
