G20, COP26 saw special protocols for PM Narendra Modi

Mega summits are always a logistics nightmare, and when heads of states of over a dozen countries are coming in, it certainly is a challenge in every sense. Even amid the challenge, host Italy and UK for the G20 and Glasgow COP26 climate summit gave “special protocol consideration” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian delegation, it is learnt. This meant PM Modi’s movement between the hotel and the venue were coordinated according to Prime Minister’s other engagements. 

The Indian delegation was also staying at the Indian PM’s hotel. This may sound easy, but when a country is hosting mega summits, hotel space and bookings are impossible to get. Especially with thousands of journalists, delegations, activists also descending on the particular city. This is especially cumbersome in a post-Covid crisis world where protocols need to be followed. Remember many countries had their delegation divide into several hotels across Rome and Glasgow during last week’s key summits.

Interestingly,  hosts had also provided flexibility in speaking order to accommodate India’s other bilateral engagements. PM Modi had over 15 bilateral combined on the sidelines of G20 and COP26 summit.  This included meetings with Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Draghi, French President Emmanuel Macron, Outgoing German chancellor Angela Merkel in Rome and the new Prime Minister of Nepal Sher Bahadur Deuba, Israel PM Naftali Bennett, UK PM Boris Johnson at Glasgow. He also met Indian community members in COVID-compliant protocols in Italy and Glasgow.

This year’s G20 summit was the first in-person since 2019. Last year’s summit was conducted virtually for the first time due to the COVID-19 crisis. India will be hosting the summit for the first time in 2023.