G-20: India taps soft power as it backs issues important to Global South

India is one of the fastest-expanding economies at a time of sluggish growth around the globe, luring companies like Apple Inc. to expand

India is set to use this week’s meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors from the Group of 20 nations to try to amplify its influence over developing economies in Asia, Africa and Latin America called the Global South.
 

Without the cash to dole out billions in loans like China did under President Xi Jinping’s Belt-and-Road Initiative, India is seeking to use soft power by championing issues important to struggling nations such as debt relief. That’s one issue that may emerge as a key theme at the meetings in Bengaluru on Feb. 24-25.

While China is the obvious rival,