The G20 Summit, a pivotal global gathering, has witnessed a consistent pattern of absentees among member countries since 2010. This absence at the head of state/head of government (HOS/HOG) or leaders' level underscores the multifaceted factors influencing leaders' decisions to attend these significant meetings.
The variability in attendance at the global forum becomes striking when examining specific instances of countries being represented below the leadership level. On six occasions, a single leader from a country was absent (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017), while on five occasions, two leaders chose not to attend (2010, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019).
In the upcoming G20 summit, Russia's President Vladimir Putin will remain absent due to an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant over alleged war crimes in Ukraine, and China's President Xi Jinping's attendance has been ruled out, with the country's premier, Li Qiang, leading the delegation. This marks the first time a Chinese leader has missed the G20 leaders' summit since its inception in 2008.
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The 2022 Bali Summit witnessed the absence of leaders from three nations, Brazil, Mexico, and Russia. This absence was particularly overshadowed due to the Ukraine conflict. Significantly, this summit marked a departure from tradition as the customary "leaders' family photo" was missing. Western leaders exhibited reluctance to share the frame with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
In the 2021 Rome Summit, a record-breaking six leaders opted not to attend the G20 meeting. This unique occurrence unfolded as the world grappled with the Covid pandemic, leading leaders to prioritise domestic challenges. The absence of leaders from China, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa signalled the gravity of global challenges during this period.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's decision to skip the 2019 G20 summit marked a significant absence. During his daily press conference, Lopez Obrador said he will send a "modest" suggestion to the G20 summit to analyse the issue of inequality in international forums like G20. Since then, no Mexican leader has attended any of the G20 meetings.
Apart from these instances, the heads of state of Indonesia, France, Argentina, and Saudi Arabia were absent from the G20 summit in 2018, 2015, 2014, and 2010, respectively. These absences were often associated with regional or international developments and priorities, illustrating the interplay between global and national considerations.
Founded in 1999 following the Asian Financial Crisis, the G20 initially served as a forum for Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to discuss global economic and financial issues. The Head of the States started meeting at the event after the collapse of housing market followed by the financial crisis of 2008. Its members collectively represent approximately 85% of global GDP, over 75% of global trade, and around two-thirds of the world's population.
India is set to host the G20 summit on September 9 and 10 in the National Capital. The New Delhi G20 summit is anticipated to witness the "largest participation" in the history of the grouping, with preparations in place to accommodate leaders of member countries and invited guest countries, showcasing India's growing role in global affairs.
The Group of Twenty (G20) comprises 19 countries: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.