The summit of the Group of 20 leading developed and emerging economies (G20) will be held on 9 and 10 September.
It is a long-awaited milestone for India as Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks to position the country as an emerging superpower whose influence could help resolve geopolitical tensions and economic slowdown. Is. The economy, food and energy prices rose.
This weekend, Mr. Modi will show that when he welcomes US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Runek and several other leaders at one of the most important global events of the year.
However, the success of the conference required much more than smart diplomacy. For months, Indian officials have been trying to find the best way to ensure New Delhi’s security. It is a congested and polluted city of 20 million people, with ancient Mughal-era forts adjacent to highways filled with buses, cars and rickshaws.
G20 logo on a pedestrian bridge in New Delhi. Photo: Reuters
Decoration for the reception of the G20 Summit in New Delhi, India. Photo: AP
The focal point of security is the center of New Delhi. This area is approximately 43 km wide2Famous for its beautiful parks, sandstone monuments and high class bungalows.
The venue of this year’s G20 summit is very grand. World leaders will meet at the renovated exhibition and convention centre, which is larger than Australia’s Sydney Opera House, using a design by the Aedas Company (whose name is closely associated with the bay. Singapore’s famous marina). The entire renovation process took 4½ years at a cost of US$326 million.
To ease traffic, the government asked schools, banks, most private businesses, and many government agencies to close. Roads connecting to neighboring states will also remain temporarily closed.
More than 100,000 police and security officials were deployed to ensure order. Heavy artillery, cameras using artificial intelligence, jamming equipment and sniffer dogs are also used. According to New Delhi Police orders, hot air balloons and paragliders have been banned from flying over the city till September 12.
To protect the leaders, the armed forces will deploy commandos, snipers, explosive ordnance disposal teams, explosive detection teams, anti-drone technology and emergency response teams, chemical and nuclear threats, long-range surveillance aircraft and fighter aircraft.
Additionally, to scare away the thousands of small monkeys that roam near government offices and steal food from pedestrians, Indian authorities installed life-size cutouts of black-faced langurs on sidewalks. elder.
India mobilizes over 100,000 police for G20 summit. Photo: AP
Mr Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the US-based Wilson Centre, said there were many security challenges to the occasion.
Police will have to stop activists and protesters related to hot issues including ethnic violence in the northeastern state of Manipur and clashes in several cities neighboring the capital.
according to page bloombergHosting a successful G20 summit could boost Prime Minister Modi’s prestige, while boosting the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) prospects in five state elections this year and national elections next summer.
