How a volatile US is pushing Canada, Europe towards India and China | Explained | India News

It’s safe to say that for decades, global decision-making has been dominated by a small group of Western nations, with much of Asia, Africa and Latin America playing a peripheral role. However, today the balance is visibly changing. The Global South, a broad grouping of emerging and emerging economies, including India, is no longer merely the subject of diplomatic policy but an active player in global outcomes and decisions.

The sectors in which such countries in the Global South exercise their emerging dominance and influence vary from trade to geopolitical alliances.

At the center of this transformation is India, which has leveraged its economic growth and careful diplomatic stance, and with it, New Delhi has emerged as the leading voice of the Global South in many respects. According to former Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer and defense expert KP Fabian, this moment presents both opportunity and responsibility for the country.

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Why has the Global South suddenly become important?

The growing importance of the Global South reflects larger changes in international politics. Economic growth in Asian countries, combined with dissatisfaction with Western-dominated institutions, has pushed developing countries to seek alternative platforms.

“The rise of the global South has really weakened the North,” Fabian said, adding that this shift was not due solely to the South’s assertiveness.

“More importantly, the North itself is falling apart, thanks to US President Donald Trump,” he said.

This fragmentation is a result of the policies of President Trump, who has returned to the US political center stage. His tariffs and trade policies created space for non-Western coalitions to influence global discourse. Thus, even the largest economies are being pushed into the arms of the Global South.

India’s role in global forums

India is actively positioning itself as a bridge between the developed and developing worlds, especially through forums such as the G20, BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) and the Quad.

“India can and is taking leadership on issues that matter to the Global South,” Fabian said, highlighting New Delhi’s role in raising concerns about development finance, climate justice and equitable growth.

India’s G20 presidency was a key example of this approach, with a strong focus on inclusivity and sustainable development.

He emphasized that “India needs to build better relations with its neighbors to raise its geopolitical profile and eventually secure a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).”

“India will need to take a more balanced position on Israel’s genocide in Palestine,” he said, suggesting that credibility in the Global South will also depend on principled diplomacy.

Challenging the Western-led order

The growing confidence of the Global South increasingly challenges the traditional Western-led global order. Countries in the Global South question unequal rights, selective application of international law, and the dominance of Western currencies in global trade.

Shaping global governance over the next decade

Looking ahead, Fabian sees BRICS as a critical platform through which India can shape global norms without triggering direct conflict with the West.

“India, which holds the BRICS chairmanship, can subtly force the use of national currencies in trade without disturbing Trump,” he said.

Strategic Mindfulness in a volatile world

Fabian also called for caution in Trump-era diplomacy. He advises moderation regarding proposals such as the ‘Peace Board’ chaired by US President Trump.

“India should politely decline to join Trump’s Peace Board as it may bring a solution to the Kashmir issue as a show of favor to Pakistan, with whom it has commercial interests,” Fabian thinks.

Notable visits to India recently

• Germany – Chancellor Friedrich Merz – 12-13 January 2026
• UAE – President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan – 19 January 2026
• European Union, President of the European Council António Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen – 25-27 January 2026
• (Approaching) France – President Emmanuel Macron – February 2026
• (Approaching) Canada – Prime Minister Mark Carney – March 2026

Notable visits to China recently

• England – Keir Starmer – 28-31 January 2026
• Finland – Petteri Orpo – 25-28 January 2026
• Canada – Prime Minister Mark Carney – 14-17 January 2026
• France – Emmanuel Macron – 3-5 December 2025

Such high-profile visits by Western leaders are a sign that there is a visible shift in power and that the world is looking to countries like India in search of stability, growth and better supply chains. This could also paint a clear picture that the world is moving away from the US market as a result of the aggressive moves implemented by the Trump administration.

The renewed prominence of the Global South marks one of the most important geopolitical shifts of the 21st century. As Western dominance emerges, economies are asserting themselves and countries that were once on the sidelines are now shaping global debates.

With its expanding influence in global forums, India has the opportunity to act as a credible leader of the Global South.