NEW DELHI: Former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Thursday warned that rising geopolitical disruptions are increasingly shaping global economic and policy decisions, urging nations to prepare for a world where geopolitical tensions are likely to persist.
Speaking during a panel discussion on Day 1 of the NXT Summit 2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Shringla said the question of whether geopolitics affects business, climate action and sustainable transitions is no longer debatable.
“Today we definitively know that geopolitics is here to stay,” he said, noting that geopolitical developments and disruptions will remain a part of global realities regardless of whether countries are prepared for them.
Shringla also cautioned that the rules-based international order is facing growing challenges. He said institutions of global governance, including the United Nations and the Bretton Woods system, are under increasing strain, with global politics often shifting towards a “might is right” approach.
Highlighting the interconnected nature of modern geopolitics, Shringla said events in one part of the world now have direct consequences for countries elsewhere. He cited the COVID-19 pandemic as a “black swan” event that disrupted economies worldwide.
Referring to ongoing tensions involving Iran, he said such conflicts can have immediate ripple effects on everyday life, including possible disruptions in LPG supply, agricultural inputs such as fertilisers, and wider supply chains.
“Even when a conflict appears geographically distant, its consequences are felt locally,” he said.
Shringla added that such geopolitical disruptions could also influence the pace of global energy transition, even as India continues to push forward with its green economy ambitions. He noted that India is among the few countries to have exceeded its commitments under the Paris climate agreement.
The NXT Summit 2026 is bringing together global leaders, policymakers and industry experts to discuss emerging geopolitical, economic and technological challenges shaping the future.
