At the 9th Carnegie Global Technology Summit held in New Delhi, European Union Ambassador to India and Bhutan, Herve Delphin, underscored the strategic alignment between India and the EU in addressing the evolving needs of the Global South. Speaking during the ‘State of the World’ segment, Delphin emphasized that both powers are uniquely positioned to “draw the bridge” and deliver on the rising expectations of the region.
Delphin outlined four key forces shaping today’s geopolitical climate: the transformation of capitalism, the strategic importance of technology, increasing social pressures, and a shifting global security environment. He pointed to the ongoing competition between economic models—from state capitalism and mercantilism to the open liberal system—and emphasized how technology has shifted from being merely a tool for progress to a core component of national security and global power dynamics.
“The EU and India are very well placed to work together to draw these bridges with the Global South,” Delphin said. “We must not view everything solely through the lens of competition.”
He further stressed that global leadership must adapt to the rapid pace of change, warning that even the most capable institutions can be overwhelmed. “The speed of change is so absorbing that it’s exhausting systems. The world is moving faster than our ability to respond,” he remarked.
Delphin also highlighted the rising importance of trust in international relations. “Trust—more than technology or tariffs—is becoming the critical raw material of geopolitics,” he said, framing it as a defining element in shaping the new world order.
The summit, co-hosted by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, is being held from April 10 to 12, 2025. This year’s theme, Sambhavna (meaning “possibilities”), centers on the transformative potential of emerging technologies to drive global cooperation, economic development, and security frameworks.
