Scholz after G20 summit: “The world will change”

Posted On: January 2, 2024

The final declaration was made through “close cooperation” between North and South countries, said Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the end of the G20 summit.

September 10, 2023 | 08:00 min

Heads of state and government from 20 leading industrialized and developing countries (G20) met for two days at a summit in New Delhi, India. Despite major differences of opinion, they were able to agree on a joint final declaration. America talks about “big steps”, and Ukraine is very critical. At ZDF, Chancellor Scholz spoke about the results and emphasized global cooperation.

Chancellor Scholz rated the outcome of the G20 summit in India as a “great success” – Russia was also satisfied. ZDF correspondent Elmar Thevessen draws conclusions.

September 10, 2023 | 01:29 min

Read excerpts from the interview here and watch the full conversation in the video.

Last year, the G20 unequivocally condemned Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. Today heads of state and government only condemn the “use of force” to achieve “territorial gains” in Ukraine. The Russian representative in New Delhi spoke of a “balanced” result.

Ukraine, which was not invited by India to the meeting, sees it differently. Foreign Ministry spokesman in Kyiv explained in X (formerly Twitter): “The G20 has nothing to be proud of.”

At the G20 summit in India, states may agree on a final declaration despite differences in content.

September 9, 2023 | 01:42 min

Chancellor Scholz defended the final declaration. 18 of the 20 countries agreed to safeguard the integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and prohibit the use of nuclear weapons. The impression that Russia's positive reaction will lead to implausible results is misleading.

Scholz said he understands that Ukraine wants more. The results achieved in the German Bundestag will also look different compared to the G20 results, but the decisions must be taken unanimously and only through good cooperation and pressure can we get “this far”.

At the G20 summit in India, ZDF correspondents Elmar Theveßen, Andreas Kynast, Norm Odenthal and Ulf Röller discuss the new power blocs and their interests.

September 6, 2023 | 29:42 min

The meetings are “important and central” to the aim of protecting the climate and other common tasks. The fact that a joint final declaration was reached despite much previous skepticism suggests that new cooperation between North and South is possible.

The world of the future requires close cooperation with countries in the south. This will not work if these countries simply follow Western countries.

The G20 will host the African Union. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced this at the opening of the G20 Summit in New Delhi.

September 9, 2023 | 02:43 min

It is a great achievement of the G20 that various opinions can be discussed at the same table.