Jaishankar: US has 'deliberately become a lonelier power' in shifting world order

India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said Sunday that the United States has "deliberately become a lonelier power" due to a "radical repositioning" of its foreign policy, identifying this shift and China's rise as the twin pillars of the current world order. Speaking at the Munich Leaders Meeting in Delhi, Jaishankar said sharp global competition has led to the "weaponisation of any leverage that any country has," while coexisting with the complexity of interdependence. He noted that emerging and middle powers will strengthen interstate cooperation where interests align, while also maintaining ties with both the US and China. Jaishankar cited the Quad, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, and BRICS as examples of such cooperation, alongside India-initiated groups like the International Solar Alliance. He referenced the accelerated emergence of multipolarity, saying countries advance by hedging, and noted multilateralism is under pressure as the United Nations remains visibly gridlocked.