According to global affairs specialist Ian Bremmer, India currently holds a stronger geopolitical position than the European Union, as the world grapples with a leadership vacuum and shifting power dynamics. In an exclusive interview with India Today TV, Bremmer highlighted that India’s unique role as both a leader of the Global South and a bridge to Western nations gives it a distinct advantage.

Bremmer pointed to India’s robust ties with Japan, Australia, and Europe, noting that recent political changes in Canada have eased previous tensions. This diplomatic strength contrasts with the challenges faced by other regions, particularly following former U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff policies and isolationist stance, which have triggered significant geopolitical realignments.

The imposition of tariffs on trading partners, including India and China, has spurred closer cooperation among nations like India, China, and Russia in multilateral forums. Meanwhile, the Quad alliance—comprising the U.S., Japan, Australia, and India—has lost momentum, with Trump canceling a planned summit visit. This vacuum has revitalized groups like the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, positioning China as a unifying force for the Global South.

Ironically, Trump’s criticisms of the BRICS bloc, which accounts for 32% of global GDP, have inadvertently strengthened its cohesion. Bremmer describes the current era as a “G zero world,” marked by absent global leadership and a move toward multipolarity. While the U.S. has stepped back from its traditional role, no other nation, including China, is ready to fill the void, leading to reduced globalization and slower growth worldwide.