India is a Power in the Middle, Not a 'Middle Power'
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar rejects the 'middle power' label, calling India a power in the middle at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has delivered a sharp rebuttal to the label of India being a "middle power," suggesting that such a term fails to capture the true scale and trajectory of the nation. Speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi, the Minister argued that India's massive population, significant economic footprint, and immense growth potential make the "middle power" designation feel restrictive and inaccurate.
Rejecting the Limiting Label
During his address, Jaishankar emphasized that India occupies a unique position in the shifting global hierarchy. He noted that for a country that stands as the most populous nation on Earth with a GDP hovering around $4 trillion and significant growth prospects on the horizon, being called a middle power is an uncomfortable fit.
"More than a middle power, in a way, we are powers in the middle," Jaishankar remarked. He further invoked the vision of the Prime Minister, stating, "What would really define a middle power? To use the Prime Minister's words, the countries who have the power to empower."
A World of Choke Points and Weaponization
The Minister provided a candid assessment of the current international landscape, describing it as a "world of choke points." He warned that the modern global order is increasingly characterized by the tendency to weaponize strategic resources and financial systems to exert pressure on other nations.
Jaishankar highlighted several critical areas where this weaponization is occurring:
- Strategic Resources: The control over rare earth elements and other critical materials.
- Financial Systems: The use of sanctions and the grip on the US dollar as tools of influence.
- Economic Interdependence: The risks inherent in how countries use their control over global mechanisms to manipulate others.
The New Era of Global Competition
According to the External Affairs Minister, the future of global competition will not just be about dominance, but about what different nations can bring to the negotiating table. He envisions a world where countries act more independently to secure their own interests before entering into strategic arrangements.
"The middle powers would now each apply their own mind, stake out their own interests, figure out their own policies, and then reach arrangements with each other," he explained. He suggested that global dynamics are shifting toward a model of mutual deals—where nations negotiate based on what they can offer and trade to advance collective or individual goals.
Despite the complexities and the risks of weaponized finance and resources, Jaishankar urged a balanced perspective, advising against a purely pessimistic view of these massive global shifts. The discussion featured a high-profile panel, including Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, and former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.