Sourabh Jaishankar, India's Foreign Minister, presented a comprehensive roadmap for empowering "emerging and middle powers" at the opening session of the Munich Leaders' Summit 2026 in New Delhi. He called on countries that do not rank among superpowers to consolidate their diplomatic, economic, and technological resources and jointly play a role in global decision-making, highlighting the increasing changes in the geopolitical landscape.
International Cooperation
Jaishankar stated, "Today, there is a significant agenda for cooperation among emerging and middle powers. The world is changing, the agenda is changing, and the architecture is also transforming." He stressed that these countries must actively collaborate in crucial areas such as conflict resolution, strengthening supply chains, advanced manufacturing, health, global connectivity, climate action, and defense reforms.
The Importance of Drug Production and Supply Chain Diversity
He also pointed to the importance of drug production and global health security, stating that the production of pharmaceutical raw materials should be diversified. Jaishankar added, "The reality is that where there is demand, there is often a shortage of human resources, and how can we balance this inequality? This is best achieved through the flow of talents and skills."
Jaishankar further emphasized the need to strengthen strategic self-sufficiency in critical technologies, stating that countries can lead in specific areas such as semiconductor manufacturing and advanced machinery. He referred to bilateral and multilateral economic collaborations and provided examples of agreements between India and the European Union that demonstrate sustainable economic alignment.
In conclusion, Jaishankar highlighted the need to enhance global connectivity, defense reforms, and climate initiatives as key pillars for these countries, stating, "Connectivity is an important agenda for emerging and middle powers, and changes in defense and space are also of great significance. These are areas that have experienced remarkable transformations."
