New Delhi, October 4 (Daily Kiran) : India’s Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar addressed the ongoing rivalry between the United States and China, advocating for a balanced approach. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, he described the current situation as a “Goldilocks” scenario, where neither excessive tension nor overly cozy relations should prevail.
Dr. Jaishankar raised concerns about the implications for emerging and middle powers in this context. He noted that many countries are focused on securing their interests across various fronts, not just in economics and security, but also in strengthening supply chains. Countries are forming new alliances and collaborating on shared issues, which is crucial for emerging and middle powers to navigate effectively.
He pointed out that expecting complete alignment of thoughts and interests among nations is unrealistic. When consensus is reached on certain issues, that alone can be sufficient for collaboration.
Dr. Jaishankar highlighted that efforts to reduce risks and explore alternatives are gradually shaping a new world order. The key question is who will ally with whom. If there is no direct confrontation among emerging and middle powers, they are likely to seek increased cooperation. It is also natural for them to work alongside both the US and China.
He remarked that this “third way” is becoming more common, moving beyond being an exception. Countries that previously felt secure in either camp are now seriously considering this alternative path.
According to the Foreign Minister, this third way could mean isolation from others, but in today’s interconnected world, that is not feasible. The real challenge lies in maintaining connections while keeping options open to safeguard national interests. He anticipates that the concept of multi-alignment will strengthen, requiring nations to engage with powers that may be difficult to align with, yet cannot be entirely avoided.
Dr. Jaishankar described this approach as a strategy of cautious advancement. The impact of this strategy on multilateralism remains to be seen, especially as platforms like the United Nations face ongoing stalemates.
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