Ex-NITI Aayog CEO says old world order collapsing; trust-based alliances to shape future
February 28, 2026: Former NITI Aayog CEO and India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant said the world has moved beyond routine geopolitical tensions and is witnessing the dismantling of the global structures that shaped the last eight decades. Speaking at the Ideas of India summit hosted by ABP Network, Kant warned that joint U.S.-Israel operations targeting Tehran could have far-reaching consequences, particularly for the Global South. He cautioned that any attempt at regime change in Iran would sharply impact oil prices, posing serious economic risks for energy-dependent nations like India, which imports nearly $180 billion worth of fossil fuels annually.
Kant argued that the post-World War II stability framework has effectively collapsed, calling international institutions such as the United Nations, the Security Council and the World Trade Organization increasingly irrelevant. He pointed to supply chain disruptions and protectionist policies, including tariffs introduced during the tenure of Donald Trump, as accelerating the erosion of the old global order. According to Kant, the safety net once provided by predictable global governance has vanished, leaving nations to navigate a far more uncertain landscape.
Looking ahead, Kant predicted that globalization will not disappear but will transform into a system built on trusted alliances rather than universal rules. He warned that shrinking trade and weakened supply chains could slow global growth and deepen inequality, especially across the Global South. Despite the turbulence, Kant expressed optimism about Artificial Intelligence, arguing that India must leverage its vast data resources to build indigenous AI models that benefit the “next billion” rather than merely boosting global tech valuations.