Why in news
- External Affairs Minister advocated for pooling resources among middle powers at the Munich Leaders Meeting 2026.
- Highlighted strategic collaboration in critical supply chains, defence, and advanced technologies.
Key terms
Middle Power
Nations holding significant regional influence and capabilities without global superpower status.
Multi-alignment
Foreign policy strategy engaging multiple power blocs based on issue-specific interests.
Strategic Autonomy
Ability of a state to pursue national interests independent of foreign dictation.
Supply Chain Resilience
Capacity of global supply networks to withstand and recover from geopolitical disruptions.
What is Middle Power Diplomacy?
- Refers to state strategies that leverage coalition-building and functional diplomacy rather than pure military dominance.
- Aims to preserve strategic autonomy and international order amid major power competition.
Key Proposals
- Aggregation of diplomatic, technological, and economic assets across middle-tier nations.
- Focus on domain-specific resilience including resilient supply chains, healthcare systems, space, and connectivity.
Why it Matters
- Aligns with India's foreign policy goal of multi-alignment and decentralized global governance.
- Mitigates vulnerabilities arising from weaponized economic dependencies.
Prelims facts
- Munich Leaders Meeting functions as an offshoot platform for high-level security dialogue.
Mains discussion
- Relevance of middle-power coalitions in maintaining a multipolar global order.
Source: Economic Times India
Same topic · past papers
UPSC has asked this before
These previous-year questions sit on the same topic. Open one to practise the earlier ask.
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2026 · Q60 · General Studies · 2 marks
Consider the following statements about Mission Sudarshan Chakra of India: 1. It aims to enhance India's air defence, ballistic missile defence and aerial offensive capabilities. 2. This Mission is being designed to enhance rapid, precise, and powerful defence responses, reinforcing India's strategic autonomy. 3. One of the aims of this Mission is to cover all public places of India by an expanded nationwide security shield by 2035. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? -
2022 · Q67 · General Studies · 2 marks
Consider the following statements: 1. Vietnam has been one of the fastest growing economies in the world in the recent years. 2. Vietnam is led by a multi-party political system. 3. Vietnam's economic growth is linked to its integration with global supply chains and focus on exports. 4. For a long time Vietnam's low labour costs and stable exchange rates have attracted global manufacturers. 5. Vietnam has the most productive e-service sector in the Indo-Pacific region. Which of the statements given above are correct? -
2026 · Q10 · GS II · 10 marks
"BRICS acts as a powerful counterweight in global governance, actively amplifying the voice and influence of the Global South." Explain the role of BRICS in projecting itself as an alternative to other groupings. -
2026 · Q16 · General Studies · 2 marks
Which of the following factors contributed to the formation of the Forward Bloc by Subhas Chandra Bose in 1939? 1. Bose failed to win the confidence of Mahatma Gandhi. 2. The Congress Left was disunited and failed to support Bose. 3. The Communists did not support Bose in his endeavours. 4. The supporters of M.N. Roy and socialist leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan preferred Congress unity to supporting Bose. Select the answer using the code given below: -
2021 · Q6 · GS III · 10 marks
Explain the purpose of the Green Grid Initiative launched at World Leaders Summit of the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November, 2021. When was this idea first floated in the International Solar Alliance (ISA) ?