An Agenda for G-12

Context: US’s intent to expand the membership of G-7 (include Australia, India, South Korea and, Russia) should encourage law-abiding disciplined China (and not isolated) and pave the way for new world order.

Agenda for Proposed New Group (G-10/G-11) 

• Not an anti-China stance: instead should encourage China for the pre-Xi era of global good behaviour. 
• Background of establishment: should be disruption to global trade caused both by protectionism and a pandemic.  

• Items on the next summit agenda should be: rising tide of protectionism and mercantilism and the global economic slowdown.

• Based on the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic: protectionism and mercantilism and the global economic slowdown.
• Frame new rules of international conduct: applicable to both China and the US).
• G-12 instead of G-11: by considering the inclusion of Indonesia that have a shared interest in ensuring that both China and the US respect international law and desist from unilateralism.
• Wider agendas (beyond the purely economic issues): to include climate change, health care, and human rights.
• Issue a new charter: of respect for human rights, adherence to international law, and multilateralism in trade and security (beyond just an America first policy).
• Membership terms and conditions: should be clear and avoid partisan behaviour by either the US or China.

Conclusion: India being the world’s largest free-market democracy is a natural choice for membership of not just a G-12 but of even a new G-7. 

• By inviting India to the expanded G7 is not a favour, but coming to terms with the reality of a new world order.