Vantage with Palki Sharma• Nov 28, 2025• 6:31Interview

India Emerges as "Major Power" in Asia Power Index 2025 | Vantage with Palki Sharma | N18G

From Vantage with Palki Sharma

Palki Sharma

Executive Summary

The United States remains the top power in Asia according to the Asia Power Index, but its influence is declining, narrowing the gap with second-ranked China.
China's power score has also slightly decreased, suggesting its narrowing gap with the U.S.
is due to American decline rather than Chinese advancement.
India has been upgraded from a "middle power" to a "major power," overtaking Japan for the third spot, partly due to its performance in "Operation Sindhu." Despite its rise, the report concludes that India is underperforming relative to its resources and potential, citing slow progress on regional connectivity and diplomatic initiatives.

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Concerns Raised

India's slow execution on key regional infrastructure and diplomatic commitments.
The decline of U.S. influence in Asia could create a power vacuum and regional instability.
China's aggressive foreign policy is undermining its own influence and relationships.

Opportunities Identified

India can solidify its position as a major power by improving its regional connectivity and taking clearer diplomatic stances.
The relative decline of both the U.S. and China creates an opening for middle powers to increase their collective influence.
Countries can leverage the comprehensive nature of power (economic, cultural, diplomatic) to build influence beyond just military capability.

Key Themes

Shifting Power Dynamics in Asia

The episode analyzes the changing balance of power in Asia, highlighting a decline in American influence and a stagnation in China's growth. This creates a more multipolar environment where other nations, particularly India, are gaining prominence.

This shift signals a potential reordering of regional alliances and security architecture, impacting strategic calculations for governments and businesses operating in the Indo-Pacific.

India's Ascendance and Untapped Potential

India's status has been elevated to a "major power," reflecting its growing capabilities. However, the analysis stresses that India is failing to fully leverage its economic, military, and soft power assets to build regional relationships and project influence effectively.

Understanding this gap between potential and reality is crucial for assessing India's future role as a regional leader and the challenges it faces in translating its strength into tangible influence.

The Limits of Hard Power

The discussion points out that China's power score has stagnated despite its military might. This is attributed to aggressive foreign policies that damage its diplomatic relationships, cultural influence, and reputation, demonstrating that national power is a multifaceted concept.

This serves as a reminder that a holistic approach to power, incorporating diplomacy and soft power, is more sustainable for long-term influence than a strategy based solely on economic and military coercion.

American Retrenchment in Asia

Despite ranking first, the U.S. has seen its power score decline significantly since 2018. The speaker attributes this to strategic distractions in other parts of the world, like Ukraine, leading to a waning focus and influence in the Asian theater.

A reduced American presence could create a power vacuum, potentially leading to increased regional instability or providing an opportunity for other powers like India and Japan to play a larger security role.

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Topics

Asia Power Index Geopolitics Indo-Pacific US-China relations India foreign policy American decline China India Japan Russia South China Sea Soft Power Middle Powers Major Powers Operation Sindhu

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