New Delhi: The United States has “deliberately become a lonelier power”, with a radical repositioning of Washington and the rise of China reshaping the international order, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar believes.
Jaishankar, speaking at the 62nd Munich Security Conference, said the global landscape was being redefined by sharp US-China competition, growing self-reliance among emerging and middle powers, and a push to diversify partnerships and reduce risks.
“No one in the room would disagree with the fact that the landscape today is primarily marked by a radical repositioning of the United States,” Jaishankar said.
He described Washington’s repositioning as “a posture of choice”, saying that the US had “deliberately become a lonelier power”.
The second major feature of the present international landscape, according to Jaishankar, was the rise of China.
“China sees itself as a unique country that is in a way both its self-perception, in many ways, also the reality,” Jaishankar said, pointing to China’s economic strength as it accounts for about one-third of global manufacturing and economic capabilities are translating into political influence.
He said the world was witnessing “very sharp competition” between the US and China, with the rivalry extending beyond the two countries.
“Very sharp competition today between the US and China is not limited to these two countries, it has led to a weaponisation of any leverage that any country has,” the Indian minister remarked.
Emerging and middle powers are becoming increasingly aware of their interests and seeking greater self-reliance, he said.
“What unites the emerging and middle powers, differentiated as they may be, is a growing self-awareness of their interest. All of them, in a way, are becoming more self-reliant. It’s a term, ‘Atmanirbhar’, very much in vogue in India as well,” Jaishankar elaborated.
