Sunak and Modi meet at G20 summit as focus stays on Ukraine
BRITISH prime minister Rishi Sunak on Tuesday (15) met his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi after assuming office for the first time on the sidelines of the 17th edition of the G20 Summit in Bali, Indonesia.
“Prime Ministers @narendramodi and @RishiSunak in conversation during the first day of the @g20org Summit in Bali,” Modi’s office said in a tweet.
This is the first face-to-face meeting between the leaders. Last month, Modi and Sunak spoke on the phone and emphasised the importance of an early conclusion of “a balanced and comprehensive” Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the
two countries.
Meanwhile, Sunak on Tuesday extended his support for Ukraine at the summit while confirming a long-planned order for warships from BAE Systems.
Russian president Vladimir Putin’s regime would hear the chorus of global opposition to its actions, Sunak said.
“Russia’s actions put all of us at risk,” he said. “As we give the Ukrainian people the support they need, we are also harnessing the breadth and depth of UK expertise to protect ourselves and our allies.”
The prime minister also announced a £4.2 billion contract to BAE Systems to build five ships for the Royal Navy, a government statement said.
As part of its support to Ukraine, Britain said last week it would soon complete delivery of 1,000 additional surface-to-air missiles to that country’s armed forces. In addition, it will send a further 12,000 sleeping kits for extreme cold weather, officials said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Modi addressed the G20 working session on Food and Energy Security, and reiterated India’s long-standing position in favour of dialogue and diplomacy in Ukraine.
He said “‘I have repeatedly said that we have to find a way to return to the path of ceasefire and diplomacy in Ukraine.
“Over the past century, the Second World War wreaked havoc in the world. After that, the leaders of that time made a serious effort to take the path of peace. Now it’s our turn. The onus of creating a new world order for the post-Covid period lies on our shoulders. The need of the hour is to show concrete and collective resolve to ensure peace, harmony and security in the world.”
Modi started his speech by congratulating Indonesia for its effective leadership of the G20 in a challenging global environment. He added that climate change, the Covid pandemic, the developments in Ukraine, and global problems associated with it have created havoc in the world.
“Global supply chains are in ruins. There is a crisis of essentials and essential goods all over the world. The challenge for the poor citizens of every country is more severe. Everyday life was already a struggle for them. They do not have the financial capacity to deal with the double whammy.”
“We should also not hesitate to acknowledge that multilateral institutions such as the UN have been unsuccessful on these issues. And we have all failed to make suitable reforms to them. Therefore, today the world has greater expectations from the G20, and the relevance of our group has become more significant,” Modi added.