Leaders skipping summits for their own reason do not reflect anything about the host country
Delhi is all set to host the G20 Summit on September 9-10, 2023, with security agencies, traffic police, and the government agencies concerned going through meticulous drills over the weekend to ensure that everything is in place for a successful mega event.
 
The days preceding the summit will see leaders from the most powerful nations of the world descending on the Indian capital. Russia will, however, see representation below the level of Heads of State (HOS) or Heads of Government (HOG). Some media reports have suggested that Chinese President Xi Jinping could also skip the G20 Summit.
 
It is, however, important to note that the absence of some leaders is not unusual.
 
The level of attendance at global summits varies from year to year as it is not always possible for every leader to attend every summit. From time to time, many leaders skip summits for their own reason. These do not reflect anything about the host country, said people tracking developments in the run-up to the summit.
 
One of them pointed to the 2021 G20 Summit in Italy as the most glaring example. There was no major geopolitical or health reason for leaders to skip the meet, but as things turned out, six countries attended below the Head of State (HOS)/ Head of Government (HOG) level.
 
In fact, a close look at attendance at G20 summits over the years reveals some interesting facts.
 
1. There have been 16 physical summits of the G20, and one virtual summit (Saudi Arabia, 2020), from 2008 onwards. The years 2009 and 2010 saw two summits each.
 
2. Out of these 16 physical summits, except for the first three summits in 2008 and 2009, there has never been a single occasion from 2010 till now when every country has attended at the HOS/HOG level.
 
3. Six G20 Summits - in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017 - saw one country being represented below the level of HOS/HOG.
 
4. During five other Summits - 2010, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019 - there were two countries below HOS/HOG. 
 
5. The G20 Bali Summit in 2022, the year Russia launched its military operations against Ukraine, saw three nations being represented at below the HOS/HOG level.
 
6. When it comes to country-wise participation in G-20 summits, Mexico stands out in particular, with the President of the Latin American country not attending a single G20 Summit since 2018, or three in all.
 
7. Argentina, Australia, Brazil, and Russia have been represented below the HOS/HOG level at two summits. 
 
8. On the other hand, China, France, Indonesia, Japan, and South Africa have been represented below this level on one occasion each.
 
9. India is among the nations which have not attended a single G20 Summit below the level of HOS or HOG. The others are Canada, Germany, Italy, South Korea, Turkey, UK, US, and EU.
 
10. Saudi Arabia is at the other extreme when it comes to this list. Nine G20 Summits have seen Saudi participation below the level of HOS or HOG. This includes representation by a Minister of State without portfolio at the 2017 meet. 
 
Interestingly, Russian President Vladimir Putin has not attended a G20 summit in person since the 2019 Summit in Osaka, Japan. He is now set to skip the upcoming G20 Delhi India Summit. He had conveyed this decision in a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August 2023 and informed him that Russia would be represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. 
 
The Delhi Summit is being held under India's rotating G20 presidency which will be passed on to Brazil in 2024, South Africa in 2025, and the United States in 2026.