New Delhi’s Power Play: UN’s Decline In Trump’s Global Shakeup And India’s Chance To Climb Up The Ladder | Explained | India News
The global system built after the Second World War is under visible strain. Protracted wars, strident economic nationalism under US President Donald Trump’s tariff regime, and the steady erosion of multilateral institutions are reshaping international power. Amidst this volatility, long-dominant players are weakening and a strategic opening is emerging for India to assert itself more strongly on the world stage.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, now in its fourth year, has turned into a harrowing and costly conflict. Thousands were killed, cities were destroyed, and Moscow was trapped in a protracted trench war. The war not only depleted economies and military power, but also diminished both Russia’s and Europe’s diplomatic influence around the world.
Israel’s offensive on Gaza, which has been ongoing since October 2023, has reduced the strip to rubble amid a humanitarian disaster. The proxy wars waged by Iran due to its internal conflicts and tensions with the USA are further shaking the stability of the Middle East, with the UN remaining weak and uninterested.
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Donald Trump’s obsession with waving the “tariff wand” of imposing 50 percent tariffs on India, his recent announcement of 10 percent tariffs on European countries, and his constant threats of 500 percent tariffs under the Russia Sanctions Act of 2025 and its constant oscillations are keeping the world in suspense.
Diminishing European Presence
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On January 17, 2026, President Trump imposed a 10% tariff on eight countries (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Finland) for rejecting the Greenland annexation proposal and further disrupting NATO unity.
In early 2025, Trump ordered US forces to capture Venezuelan Nicolás Maduro on charges of narco-terrorism, reviving the echoes of unilateral power plays in the changing world order.
Also Read: Chabahar Port Crisis: Will India ‘End’ Operations Amid US Sanctions Crunch?
Indifference of the United Nations
Paralyzed by the outdated UN Charter and P5 veto bias, the United Nations is proving powerless in today’s turbulent world order, shaken by wars and Trump’s convulsions.
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Trump’s unilateralism on funding cuts and tariffs and Venezuela’s strike push this further aside, strengthening multipolar forums like the BRICS.
India’s Strategic Escalation in the Changing Global Order
India has persistently sought a permanent UN Security Council seat at a time when the UN Security Council has diminished in importance in today’s multipolar chaos, positioning New Delhi as a key unifier of the Global South through the G20 and climate diplomacy.
Amid the growing apathy of the United Nations, in March 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi harshly criticized the United Nations and other global bodies for being “almost irrelevant” in a podcast interview with Lex Fridman.
In March 2025, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar made a statement highlighting India’s Rise and Role in the World during the Chatham House meeting in London.
This further strengthens India’s power play, leveraging a multipolar world aligned with India’s strategic interests, enabling the country to maintain its autonomy while strengthening global partnerships.
EAM S Jaishankar also highlighted the shifting alliances that have benefited India under US policy, reaffirmed stable US ties and cited the Quad with the US, Australia and Japan as an example of regional cooperation.
Moreover, India is emerging as an economic powerhouse with 7% GDP growth supported by initiatives such as “Atmanirbhar Bharat” and “Viksit Bharat 2047”.
US President Donald Trump’s shaking up of the static post-World War global order, along with the increasing influence of BRICS in the changing world scenario, may provide a significant boost to India’s rise and increasing presence in the world order.
Expansion of BRICS
India has significant scope to leverage its global position through BRICS by leveraging the bloc’s expansion. India’s BRICS 2026 presidency amid changing world dynamics. India’s presidency prioritizes resilient supply chains, energy and technologies such as artificial intelligence and fintech to counter tariff cuts.
BRICS acts as a buffer against Western slowdowns and US tariffs while opening up diversified markets and energy pathways in line with ‘Atmanirbhar’ and ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’, with strategic positioning that strengthens India’s leadership in the Global South.
BRICS currently consists of original members Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, plus full additions since 2024-2025 such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE and Indonesia, accounting for almost 40% of global GDP.
India is supporting BRICS initiatives in digital payments such as expansion of UPI, energy alliances with Russia for discounted oil and UAE for trade, and growing ties with Egypt for regional influence by creating balanced supply chains under Atmanirbhar Bharat. These efforts reduce dependence on the dollar and exposure to Western sanctions in the face of Trump’s tariffs.
Collective resistance to ‘tariff blackmail’ increases bargaining power against threats to deplete the dollar, strengthens Global South leadership and solidifies New Delhi’s climb on the global ladder.
Free Trade Agreements and Strategic Reset with Beijing
Apart from the growing bastion of BRICS+, New Delhi has initiated efforts to warm its relations with Beijing through high-level dialogues and practical measures, including Prime Minister Modi’s visit to China for the SCO summit in 2025.
The 24th Special Representatives dialogue signaled the rebuilding of trust after the 2020 border clashes. The visit of the Chinese CCP delegation to New Delhi in January 2026 underlined the ‘right environment’ for relations, with China supporting India’s BRICS chairmanship.
Resumed direct flights, expanded Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and hydrological data sharing reflect revival among people.
With greater focus on Free Trade Agreements, New Delhi is accelerating trade diversification in 2026, focusing on upcoming FTAs such as the India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) effective from 2026 and the upcoming EU agreement, and reducing dependence on dominant markets by advancing negotiations with the US, Peru, Chile, New Zealand, Israel and others.
