Atideb Sarkar calls for focus on development, sovereignty amid rising geopolitical tensions
February 27, 2026: The fifth edition of the Ideas of India Summit commenced with a sweeping inaugural address by Atideb Sarkar, Chief Editor and Publisher of ABP Network, who reflected on a year marked by war, economic disruption and geopolitical uncertainty. Welcoming delegates to Ideas of India 2026, Sarkar cited conflicts in the subcontinent, Gaza and Ukraine, tensions in the Middle East, and shifting US trade policies as signs of a world in flux. Drawing on the ideas of Henry Kissinger, he underlined the need for a legitimate and balanced global order to prevent chaos.
Sarkar referenced competing theories of world order advanced by scholars such as John Mearsheimer, Yan Xuetong, Monica Duffy Toft and Michael Beckley, highlighting debates over spheres of influence, US-China rivalry and the durability of American primacy. He noted that as the global balance shifts, India faces a complex environment: an inward-looking United States, uneasy ties with China, volatile neighbourhood dynamics, and crucial trade negotiations with the European Union and the US.
Emphasising that “development, not status” must define India’s national interest, Sarkar argued that the country should prioritise economic growth, job creation and domestic reform while safeguarding sovereignty and national security. He called for pragmatic engagement with all major powers, calibrated trade strategies, and a stable regional approach. As the global order evolves, he concluded, India’s foremost task over the next two decades is to deliver material progress without being drawn into avoidable conflicts.