A frisson of fear now ripples through the international community over the outcome of a fierce power rivalry between the United States of America and the new axis shaped by China and Russia. At its core is the need to blunt any dominant power from using economic and financial leverage to force nations to accept discriminatory agreements. The German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, also urged Europe and like-minded allies to stand together as a new era of great power politics emerges. There will be no winners; nations that do not become vassal states of a major power will likely turn into fortresses with very unpleasant consequences. India, one of the few nations that have held out against Mr Trump’s threats, must take note of these shifts.

Source: The Telegraph January 23, 2026 02:05 UTC