Syrian crisis: A divided G20 and troubled Obama

The body language speaks one’s mind and, in the case of G20, it has been able to say a lot. Stiff smiles, short handshakes and cold stares have shadowed the G20 summit in the wake of US decision on Syria and probably has divided it too.

Opening the summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin had kept it down to the main agenda speaking exclusively upon the economic crisis. But on Thursday, all the cards were on show.

With China, EU, BRICS and other emerging economies warning of dangers of illegal military intervention in Syria and Pope Francis sending a letter to the leaders asking to avoid war, pressure on Obama has mounted.

Although US Ambassador to UN Samantha Power has accused Russia of holding Security Council to hostage, the ball is in Putin’s court.

As reported by Reuters, Putin was isolated on Syria at a Group of Eight meeting in June, the last big summit of world powers, but could now turn the tables on Obama, who recently likened him to a “bored kid in the back of the classroom” who slouches at meetings.

Putin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, portrayed the “camp of supporters of a strike on Syria” as divided, and said: “It is impossible to say that very many states support the idea of a military operation.”

While UK prime minister David Camaroon, following initial discussions said that his country has received new evidence stating that gas sarin was used by Bashar al-Assad’s government, German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle demanded examination by an international court.

China has already presented its apprehensions regarding the economic and oil troubles which may follow an attack on Syria. Russia has also warned US of a nuclear catastrophe which can possibly start due to damage to the Syrian nuclear facilities due to the attack.

India too has cautioned US against any hasty action on Syria saying any action should take route of UN Security Council.

According to BBC report, the leaders of France, Turkey, Canada and the UK gave strong backing to President Obama’s call for military action. The UK Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne said the Turks put a “very strong argument about how the world must respond to the use of chemical weapons”.

As the G20 loses its harmony and opponents of US military intervention appear to far outnumber supporters within the G20, Obama is left with a little support.