India cannot remain a passive spectator as geopolitical conflicts, sanctions, and tariffs reshape global trade and supply chains, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Friday.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Kautilya Economic Conclave 2025 in New Delhi, she underlined India’s resilience while calling for greater assertiveness in shaping global outcomes.

Addressing delegates, Sitharaman said the world is undergoing deep uncertainty that is altering both global and Indian interests. She noted that shifting trade and geopolitical tensions are redefining how nations engage with each other.

“For India, these dynamics highlight both vulnerability and resilience. Our capacity to absorb shocks is strong, while our economic leverage is evolving,” she said.

The finance minister stressed that India’s current choices will determine its future standing. “Our choices will determine whether resilience becomes a foundation for leadership or merely a buffer against uncertainty,” she remarked.

Sitharaman also suggested that today’s fractured global order could pave the way for new cooperation if handled wisely. “History teaches us that crises often precede renewal. The fragmentation we see today may give rise to more sustainable and unforeseen forms of cooperation,” she said.

Emphasizing fairness and inclusion, she warned that any future partnerships must serve the interests of developing nations. “The challenge is to ensure that inclusive principles shape cooperation. For developing countries, this is a necessity, not just a romantic aspiration,” she said.

Calling for a stronger voice from emerging economies, Sitharaman urged nations to be proactive in influencing decisions that impact them. “In a world where decisions elsewhere determine our destinies, we must be active participants, shaping outcomes where possible and preserving autonomy where necessary,” she concluded.

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