In US-China rivalry, middle powers urged to be ‘indispensable’ chokepoints

Middle powers should strive to become indispensable players in safeguarding strategic autonomy amid the ongoing power rivalry between the US and China, according to former leaders and top diplomats who gathered at a forum in India. The assessment comes as smaller nations seek to protect themselves from mounting geopolitical uncertainties arising from the trade war initiated by the US under President Donald Trump.

The trade conflict has affected America's allies and adversaries alike, and the global energy market's volatility due to the US-Israel war on Iran has further complicated the situation. Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak highlighted that while middle powers cannot compete with the big powers in scale, they can make themselves indispensable by providing essential components in global supply chains, such as ASML's EUV photolithography machines or Germany's ultra-precise optical components.

Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand emphasized that countries should focus on building strategic stocks in energy, AI, and critical minerals, and use their advantages constructively. By doing so, middle powers can shape the international order rather than passively observe it. India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar described the current shifts as an expansion of global leadership, with the board of directors expanding.

He stressed that India should not be labeled a "middle power" and should focus on building domestic resilience as a long-term imperative. Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd downplayed fears of a new era of superpower co-management, stating that the likelihood of a functional "G2" agreement between China and the US is close to zero.