Raisina Dialogue: Multipolarity, Trade and India’s Strategic Autonomy

By Priyanka Agar Wala

The Raisina dialogue, India’s flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-economics, brings together global leaders every year from multiple sectors to examine current international issues and search for ways to work together. However, the 11th edition, held between March 5 and 7, 2026, coincides with an era of global uncertainty, marked by wars, shifting political allegiances, and technological rivalry. The main theme this year was “Samskara-Assertion, Accommodation, Advancement,” brought together global decision-makers and thought leaders for three days of discussions structured around six thematic pillars. One of the main themes of the sixth pillar of this edition, “Trade in the Time of Tariffs: Recovery Resilience Reinvention,” showed that political competition, together with protectionist measures and strategic tariff implementation, now shapes international trade. Thus, the forum advocated for a multipolar world system and for strengthening new economic connectivity.

The global trading system now faces a challenge as major powers use trade as a weapon through their implementation of tariffs, sanctions and export controls. As a result, countries have started to reconsider their economic alliances due to the supply-chain disruptions, which were further worsened by current conflicts and great-power competition. The Strait of Hormuz and the Suez Canal serve as an essential trade route, which means that any interruptions to their operations will impact global economic systems. Moreover, the ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran served as one of the main focuses of the discussion as the escalating hostilities would affect energy security, trade routes and international stability.

Hence, supporters reintroduced the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) to the audience as an alternative pathway that functions as a strategic defense system and reduce the uncertainties of becoming overly reliant on the Suez Canal and on the other vital choke points that now face dangers from warfare and civil unrest. For India, the IMEC project supports its economic sovereignty and multi-alignment policy enabling the nation to bridge between the Global South and the Global North while strengthening ties with European nations and major Gulf partners. At the same time, European countries see IMEC to diversify trade, reduce reliance on China, and secure energy and goods. However, the countries proceed with caution because the Middle East remains unstable and building the corridor needs high cost and advanced technology.

The Pacific region emerged as the main strategic focal point in the discussion. India emphasized the geopolitical importance of the Indo-Pacific, stressing freedom of navigation, regional security, and collaborative frameworks to ensure stability in one of the world’s most economically dynamic and contested areas. The approach demonstrates that the Indo-Pacific region functions as a security hub from which India protects its national interests.

Within this broader context, India continues advocating for multipolarity that the country sees as both a geopolitical framework and an economic system. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and global speakers from different countries established that Western global power, which used to control world affairs, has now started to decline, resulting in an international system that treats all Asian, African and Latin American nations as equal partners. This approach was further strengthened by the bold statement of Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who highlighted that “the era of a Western dominated world is over”.

A strategic synthesis of supporting Indo-Pacific stability, multipolarity and developing new economic connectivity demonstrates that India is moving from a traditional non-alignment to multi-alignment approach to allow itself to engage with both Western nations and emerging economies and strengthen its strategic autonomy.

Further reading

Economic Times. (2026, March 5). India hosts global leaders as Raisina Dialogue 2026 focuses on AI, security, and a fragmented world order. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/india-hosts-global-leaders-as-raisina-dialogue-2026-focuses-on-ai-security-a-fragmented-world-order/articleshow/129065696.cms

Economic Times. (2026, March 6). Global South, led by India, will shape next world order, says Finland’s President Alexander Stubb at Raisina Dialogue. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/global-south-led-by-india-will-shape-next-world-order-says-finlands-president-alexander-stubb-at-raisina-dialogue/articleshow/129093506.cms

Business Standard. (2026, March 8). From values to value: Raisina Dialogue highlights pragmatic diplomacy in a fractured world. https://www.business-standard.com/world-news/from-values-to-value-raisina-dialogue-highlights-pragmatic-diplomacy-126030800756_1.html

Asia Media Centre. (2026). Raisina Dialogue 2026 opens in New Delhi. https://www.asiamediacentre.org.nz/raisina-dialogue-2026-opens-in-new-delhi

The Times of India. (2026, March 7). AI, autonomous systems to play decisive role in future conflicts: CDS. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/defence/news/ai-autonomous-systems-to-play-decisive-role-in-future-conflicts-cds/articleshow/129317686.cmsFurther reading