The former Canadian PM urged rebuilding Canada-India ties, emphasizing global linkages and fostering peace.
New Delhi: At the NXT Forum 2025, held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen J. Harper delivered a keynote address highlighting India’s crucial role in the shifting global landscape. He emphasized that while the world is undergoing major transformations, India is well-equipped to navigate these changes effectively. Harper also touched on another pressing issue—what he called the “elephant in the room.” He clarified that this was not an Asian or African elephant, but a Canadian one.
Harper expressed hope that Canada would restore strong, productive ties with India, recalling his efforts to revitalize the relationship during the leadership of Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi. He lamented its decline under his successor, stating that while he could not assess the current allegations, his government always recognized that most Canadians, including Indo-Canadians, do not support India’s division.
With Canada now facing tensions with the United States, Harper stressed the urgent need to rebuild Canada-India relations. He urged India to strengthen its global linkages while remembering Western Canada, emphasizing that a true world power fosters peace and prosperity for all.
Harper warned that the world is shifting from order to disorder, moving away from rules-based cooperation toward a survival-of-the-fittest mentality. This transition, he explained, is not just about declining institutions but a deeper mindset shift—from mutual benefit to zero-sum competition. He noted that powers like Iran, Russia, and China exploit global rules when convenient while using coercion to expand their influence.
He further observed that under President Trump, the United States is adopting a similar approach, citing its conditional support for Ukraine and suggestions of acquiring Canada and Greenland. As a Canadian, he found this shift deeply concerning, given Canada’s historically close economic and security ties with the U.S. However, he acknowledged that the rules-based order has constrained the U.S. while allowing rivals and even allies to act independently, leading many smaller nations to hedge between global powers in this new multipolar disorder.
Harper spoke extensively about India’s strategic position in the evolving global order. While India would have preferred a reformation of global rules and institutions to reflect its rising status, these frameworks are instead losing relevance. Despite this, India does not need excessive hedging strategies, as it is emerging as a global power due to its size and strategic appeal.
Highlighting India’s demographic and economic strength, he pointed out that India is set to become the world’s most populous nation and has secured its place among the top five economies, growing faster than any other major country. With its vast landmass and cultural influence, India is on track to become a leading global force.
However, Harper acknowledged India’s challenges, including: Agricultural inefficiencies, military that lags behind its economic strength, geopolitical pressures from China and elements within the Islamic world.
Despite these obstacles, India’s strategic advantages remain strong—it is perceived as a desirable global partner rather than a threat. Harper also emphasized that India’s democratic values align with the EU and the U.S., making it a key player in countering China’s long-term challenges.
Harper highlighted India’s unique position as a post-colonial nation, enabling it to build strong partnerships across the Global South, including the Gulf, Africa, and Brazil. As the world shifts into a multipolar order, India remains one of the few nations capable of expanding its global influence while sustaining growth and prosperity.
However, he cautioned that the emerging world order mirrors the rivalries of the pre-World War I era, a troubling prospect given modern military advancements and AI technologies. He warned that such rivalries could lead to even greater instability.
Harper urged India to balance power politics with its commitment to democratic values, playing a constructive global role rather than being drawn solely into spheres of influence. He stressed that challenges like economic growth, climate change, health crises, and global security require international cooperation, which cannot thrive in a world dominated by authoritarian power struggles.
As a free and democratic nation, India is well-positioned to be the voice of the Global South while maintaining democratic leadership. Harper criticized the West for its recent failures in leadership, oscillating between self-doubt and moral superiority, creating a global leadership vacuum that India is well-placed to fill.
He viewed the rise of strongman politics, exemplified by Trump, as a necessary but temporary correction and emphasized that the world still needs a strong yet idealistic America.