New Delhi: The arrival of 24 world leaders, including presidents of major economies, the United Nations Secretary-General, and the International Monetary Fund chief, for a summit that commenced on Monday reflects India’s deliberate use of diplomatic convening as an instrument of soft power projection.
This is the first time that this summit is happening outside a developed nation and will be focusing on issues that impact billion on people in the coming years.Soft power, defined as the ability to influence outcomes through attraction, legitimacy, and institutional centrality rather than coercion or economic leverage, is most visibly exercised when countries draw diverse global leadership to their territory under their convening authority.
The presence of French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres signals recognition of India’s growing role as a neutral platform for strategic dialogue.
The geographic spread of participants, spanning Europe, Latin America, Central Asia, South Asia, and the Indian Ocean region, demonstrates India’s ability to engage across traditional geopolitical blocs. Leaders including Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Netherlands Prime Minister Dick Schoof, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan represent countries with distinct strategic alignments, yet converging in New Delhi under Indian convening.
Protocol arrangements also reinforce the message. Several heads of state are arriving at Air Force Station Palam, a military airbase reserved for the highest level of diplomatic receptions, reflecting the strategic weight accorded to the event.
The participation of IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and senior leadership from multiple continents indicates that India is not only hosting political dialogue but positioning itself at the centre of discussions on economic governance and global institutional coordination.
By hosting leaders from advanced economies, emerging powers, and multilateral institutions simultaneously, India is strengthening its image as a pivotal intermediary capable of shaping consensus across geopolitical divides.
The summit will continues with arrivals through 19 February, underscoring India’s transition from a regional actor to a central convenor in global diplomacy.
