The G20 joint declaration that avoids direct criticism of Russia for its war against Ukraine is being described as a significant diplomatic win for India.
The agreement of a joint statement in Delhi looked almost impossible a few days ago, given how sharply divided the group was over Russia's invasion of its neighbour.
In the end, we had a declaration that garnered unanimous support from all G20 member nations, without a single dissenting note.
Ukraine itself, which was not represented at the summit, was unhappy - though key players, including the US, the UK, Russia and China, praised the outcome.
So, how did India manage to bring together nations with starkly divergent views on Ukraine?
A close reading of the declaration and some geopolitical developments weeks before the summit offer some clues.
The five-nation Brics group - which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - decided to include six new members during its annual summit in August.
The new members - Argentina, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE - have close ties with China.
The expansion may not have played a direct role in the outcome of the G20 summit but it's no secret that the West has been wary of China's growing clout, particularly in the developing world, in the past few years.
"It was not a direct factor but the West, especially the US, is conscious that China is effectively trying to create an alternative international order that is anti-Western," says Pramit Pal Chaudhuri, South Asia practice head of Eurasia Group.
What is also not a secret is that the West sees India as a counterweight to China and it would have not wanted Delhi's presidency to end without a declaration."
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