G20 Welcomes African Union as Permanent Member, Rejects Use of Force in Ukraine

The Group of 20 (G20) welcomed the African Union (AU) as a member at their annual summit, but their statement on the war in Ukraine was limited to a call to avoid forcefully seizing territory or using nuclear weapons. The G20 final statement did not directly mention Russia's invasion and instead reiterated the need for all states to act in line with the principles of the United Nations Charter. The addition of the AU as a permanent member adds momentum to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's drive to give a greater voice to the Global South. The summit also addressed challenges such as terrorism, cybersecurity, health, and water security.