Meet Naidu, The Man Behind G20 Declaration

In the recent G20 summit hosted by India, a significant diplomatic achievement took center stage when all member countries unanimously approved the ‘Delhi Declaration.’ Despite the formidable challenges posed by issues like the Ukraine-Russia war, climate change, geopolitical tensions between China and America, and disputes between oil-producing and oil-purchasing nations regarding clean fuels, the surprising consensus among G20 member countries made headlines around the world.

One key figure being widely discussed for his instrumental role in achieving this consensus is Telugu diplomat Nagaraju Naidu.

Amitabh Kant, India’s G20 sherpa responsible for overseeing the entire G20 presidency, took to social media to acknowledge and share the pivotal role played by diplomats like Nagaraju Naidu and Eenam Gambhir in reaching this significant declaration. He revealed that it required 200 hours of intense negotiations, 300 bilateral meetings, and the drafting of 15 versions to secure consensus among member states, particularly on the challenging Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Nagaraju Naidu, hailing from Kakanur, Hyderabad, is an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer who served as the Joint Secretary in G20 affairs. Although not from the 1998 batch, his diplomatic career has been marked by notable achievements. He recently held the position of ‘Chef de Cabinet’ to the President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Prior to this, he served as the Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations starting from January 2019.

Naidu’s significant contributions to the G20 declaration underscore the crucial role that diplomats like him play in fostering international cooperation and addressing complex global challenges.