The fifth edition of the Ideas of India Summit 2026, hosted by ABP Network, commenced under the compelling theme “The New World Order.” The summit opened with an engaging conversation featuring Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and renowned American political scientist John Mearsheimer, who currently serves as the R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago. The session examined shifting global power equations, geopolitical tensions, and the strategic recalibrations shaping the emerging world order. Mearsheimer noted that India’s balanced diplomatic engagement with both the United States and Russia stands out as a significant achievement in an increasingly polarized world. He also commented on former U.S. President Donald Trump’s stated ambition to end conflicts across regions including the Middle East and the Western Hemisphere, even suggesting possible engagement with Chinese President Xi Jinping. However, he cautioned that tensions involving Iran complicate the broader peace narrative. A key takeaway from the discussion was the urgent need to understand artificial intelligence before aspiring to lead in it. Speakers emphasized that technological leadership demands deep comprehension, ethical clarity, and strategic foresight. The summit sets the tone for robust debates on diplomacy, security, innovation, and leadership in a rapidly transforming global landscape.


