Spain’s President Sanchez Tests Positive for COVID-19, Skips G20 Summit in India

Spain’s President Pedro Sánchez has tested positive for COVID-19 and will not be attending the G20 Summit in India, joining a list of world leaders who won’t be present at the event. Sánchez confirmed his positive test result on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “This afternoon I have tested positive for COVID and will not be able to travel to New Delhi for the G20 Summit. I feel fine.”

Instead of President Sanchez, Spain will be represented at the G20 Summit by First Vice President Nadia Calvino and the Minister of Economic Affairs and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, EU, and Cooperation.

Sánchez’s absence makes him the third leader to withdraw from the G20 Summit, with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin also skipping the event in Delhi.

The G20 Summit is set to take place in the Indian capital at the recently inaugurated Bharat Mandapam. This marks the first G20 Summit under India’s presidency and is expected to host numerous global leaders and delegates. Extensive preparations have been made to showcase both India’s soft power and its modern face.

Established in 1999, the G20 aims to ensure global financial stability by involving middle-income countries. India assumed the G20 presidency on December 1 last year and organized approximately 200 meetings related to the G20 in 60 cities across the country. The 18th G20 Summit in New Delhi will serve as the culmination of all G20 processes and meetings held throughout the year, involving ministers, senior officials, and civil societies.

At the conclusion of the G20 Summit, a G20 Leaders’ declaration will be adopted, reflecting the leaders’ commitment to the priorities discussed and agreed upon during ministerial and working group meetings.

Brazil is set to take over the G20 presidency in 2024, followed by South Africa in 2025.

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