Every now and then, comes a moment when nations must decide whether to lead or to remain on the sidelines. For India, that moment is now. The stage has been set by a series of seismic shifts in international relations. The United States, long seen as the architect of the post-world war global order, has retreated from few of its commitments under the leadership of President Donald Trump. From stepping away from the Paris Climate Agreement (for the 2nd time) to withdrawing funding from the World Health Organization, America’s retreat has created a void. Into this gap is stepping China, with a calculated ambition to present itself as the guardian of multilateralism and global stability.

Smaller nations, reliant on global frameworks for stability and finance, might find themselves looking towards Beijing, whose narrative of dependability will not be without its own pitfalls. After all, has anyone forgotten its debt diplomacy? If left unchallenged, this consolidation of influence could redraw the contours of global power,........

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