Overview
- Speaking at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum on Wednesday, Jaishankar said India is uncomfortable with the term 'middle power' and prefers to be seen as 'powers in the middle.'
- He argued India's global standing rests on its population size and an economy of about $4 trillion, plus rapid growth prospects that make the traditional label limiting.
- Jaishankar warned the international order is shaped by strategic 'choke points' such as control of rare earths, sanctions and dollar-based finance that can be used as instruments of pressure.
- He said mid-level states will increasingly act independently, pursue reciprocal, deal-based arrangements and compete on what each can bring to the table.
- The comments, made during a panel with Anita Anand, Kevin Rudd and Rishi Sunak, function as diplomatic signaling of posture and priorities rather than an announcement of new formal policy.