The World This Week

CWA # 1965
The World This Week
AI Impact Summit in New Delhi I Munich Security Conference 2026

The World This Week, # 345, 22 February 2025

Global Politics Team
22 February 2026
Photo Source: Reuters, BBC, Mint

The Global AI Impact Summit in New Delhi:
Six Major Takeaways 

Yesasvi Koganti 

From 16-20 February, the India AI Impact Summit 2026 was held in New Delhi. The AI Summit 2026 hosted representatives from more than 110 countries, including about 20 heads of state and government, over 45 ministers, senior UN officials, technology CEOs, and civil society representatives. 

AI Summit 2026 was conceptualized around the theme of inclusive and responsible AI and is seen as the first significant AI governance meeting to be held in the Global South.

The following are the six major takeaways from the summit.

1. The emergence of multipolar AI governance in the Global South
The summit marked the first major AI gathering in the Global South. It included representatives from over 110 countries, 20 heads of state, and 45 ministers. The participation of leaders beyond the US and China indicated a shift towards multiple powers sharing control of AI. The multilateral Leaders’ Declaration supported development-focused, inclusive AI governance. The UN officials described the AI Summit as a critical point in inclusive norm-making. The summit marked a historic turn towards multipolar, inclusive AI governance, allowing the Global South to help shape global AI norms.

2. Recognition of the AI Divide, with partial structural responses
The summit recognized that AI adoption in the Global North is roughly twice that of the Global South. To fill this gap, several fixes were proposed, including subsidized compute access for less than USD 1 per hour, the distribution of 38,000 GPUs, and the commitment to conduct multilingual AI evaluations as part of the New Delhi Frontier Commitments. Tech companies also committed to share data in anonymized form. However, there were no binding global rules to fill this gap or to finance it. High energy costs and poor infrastructure continue to make it impossible for most least-developed countries to have actual access to AI, and thus the AI gap is only partially closed.

3. Global investment reorients toward development-oriented AI expansion
The summit represents a change in the way that big tech thinks about the deployment of AI in the developing world. The Leaders’ Declaration emphasized equitable access, child safety, and responsible innovation, explicitly recognizing uneven diffusion between North and South. Over USD 68 billion in additional commitments and emerging “silicon security alliances” reflected alignment with sovereignty-sensitive governance frameworks. AI is increasingly framed not only as a competitive technology, but as a development platform, though implementation remains voluntary and market-driven.

4. India rolls out a sovereign AI stack to anchor technological self-reliance
India took the opportunity to announce its comprehensive sovereign AI strategy through the IndiaAI Mission. The plan is based on an “AI stack” that includes computing power, semiconductors, data centers, talent and policy frameworks, and the promotion of renewable energy sources as a means to reduce reliance on other countries. The plan to enhance the country's capabilities includes aggressive initiatives such as the widespread use of GPUs, access to compute power, and the incorporation of renewable energy sources. Ethical AI is also incorporated through the M.A.N.A.V. (Moral, Accountable, National, Accessible, Valid) framework, which emphasizes accountability, accessibility, and legitimacy.

5. AI moves to the centre of India’s national infrastructure strategy
AI is now treated as strategic infrastructure comparable to energy and transport. Reliance Industries pledged INR 10 lakh crore for seven years in AI and data capacity. Tata Consultancy Services developed AI-optimized data centers, attracting OpenAI as a 100-MW client. The government offered tax benefits, clean and nuclear energy policies, and favourable data center policies. Global companies increased investments, such as Google’s USD 15 billion Vizag AI center. By treating AI similar to transport, energy, and telecom, India placed AI at the forefront of economic development and state capacity.

6. Structural risks persist beneath rapid AI expansion
However, despite the momentum, the summit also exposed some structural risks. The ability to compute and to make chips is still dominated by foreign players. Analysts warn of job displacement in the IT and BPO sectors due to agentic AI systems. Concerns over “data-for-compute” dependency persist, where access to advanced infrastructure may require strategic concessions. While the AI ambition is bold and forward-looking, rapid expansion also creates new risks.

Munich Security Conference 2026: 
Europe’s Security Concerns, Defence Consolidation and Transatlantic Recalibration

Lekshmi MK

What happened?

From 13-15 February, the Munich Security Conference was held in Munich, bringing together global leaders, defence ministers, diplomats, and strategic experts to deliberate on urgent security challenges.

On 13 February, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated that Donald Trump remains “very serious” about acquiring Greenland. European leaders stressed strengthening defence readiness amid prolonged instability. During the same session, US Vice President JD Vance urged European allies to reduce long-term dependence on US security guarantees and assume greater defence responsibility, signalling a tougher tone on burden-sharing.

On 14 February, President Volodymyr Zelensky described European unity as the “best interceptor” against Russian aggression. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the United Kingdom will deploy warships and fighter jets to the Arctic in 2026 to strengthen regional security. President Emmanuel Macron reiterated calls for greater European strategic autonomy, while former Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasised sustained defence cooperation within NATO.

On 15 February, sessions focused on alliance cohesion and transatlantic relations. Secretary of State of the United States Marco Rubio reassured allies that the United States and Europe “belong together,” emphasising continued cooperation despite tensions over defence spending. Responding to concerns about strategic uncertainty, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen stressed that strengthening Europe’s defence capacity should reinforce NATO rather than replace it. High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell underscored the need for European solidarity and greater strategic responsibility. Reaffirming alliance unity, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg emphasised that collective defence remains the cornerstone of Euro-Atlantic security and urged allies to strengthen burden-sharing and interoperability.

What is the background?

First, a brief history of MSC. The Munich Security Conference (MSC) was founded in 1963 by Ewald von Kleist during the Cold War. It was created to strengthen transatlantic security cooperation and assess NATO’s strategic posture against the Soviet Union. Early meetings brought together military officials, diplomats, and political leaders to coordinate Western defence. After the Cold War, the MSC broadened its focus to include the Balkan conflicts, NATO expansion, terrorism, and weapons proliferation. Over time, it evolved into a premier global forum addressing emerging challenges such as cyber threats, artificial intelligence, climate security, China’s rise, and the war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, NATO cohesion and transatlantic relations remain central concerns.

Second, a brief background to the MSC 2026. The 2026 conference took place amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty. Ongoing war in Europe, intensifying great-power rivalry, economic disruptions, and technological competition have deepened global insecurity. Confidence in multilateral institutions is weakening, while countries increasingly prioritise national resilience and strategic autonomy. Security concerns now extend beyond military threats to include energy disruptions, supply chain vulnerabilities, cyber risks, and artificial intelligence governance. Against this backdrop, MSC 2026 convened to assess emerging risks and explore pathways to stability. 

Third, drift in the transatlantic relationship and Europe’s convergence. Recent debates over defence spending, burden-sharing, and strategic priorities have exposed strains in transatlantic relations. Signals from Washington urging Europe to assume greater security responsibility. Meanwhile, uncertainties about long-term US commitments have prompted European states to coordinate more closely. Rather than replacing the transatlantic alliance, this convergence reflects Europe’s effort to strengthen internal cohesion, enhance defence cooperation, and reduce strategic dependence while preserving cooperation with NATO.

Fourth, the gathering of Europe around collective security. Amid prolonged instability in Ukraine and emerging security risks in the Arctic and beyond, European leaders are increasingly aligning around collective defence and strategic coordination. Calls for stronger defence readiness, joint capabilities, and political unity reflect a shared recognition that Europe must act more cohesively to safeguard regional security. This “gathering of Europe” signals not fragmentation, but a growing willingness among European states and institutions to coordinate responses, strengthen deterrence, and reinforce the continent’s role as a proactive security actor.

What does it mean?

First, increasing emphasis on collective defence and rising defence spending. European states are moving from strategic hesitation to defence preparedness. The war in Ukraine and fears of Russian expansion have accelerated commitments to NATO targets, military modernisation, and joint procurement. Collective defence is no longer rhetorical; it is becoming a budgetary and institutional reality.

Second, evolving perceptions between the United States and Europe. The transatlantic relationship is under recalibration. While Europe continues to rely on the United States for security guarantees, concerns about Washington’s political unpredictability and strategic priorities are pushing Europe toward greater strategic autonomy. Simultaneously, the US expects Europe to shoulder more defence responsibility, signalling a shift from dependency toward burden-sharing.

Third, regional conflicts overshadow broader global priorities. Immediate security crises dominated the agenda of the conference. The Russia-Ukraine war and instability in the Middle East diverted attention from expected discussions on the rise of China, artificial intelligence governance, cyber threats, and the Gaza war. 

About the authors

Lekshmi MK is pursuing post-graduation in the Department of Political Science, Madras Christian College, Chennai, and is a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru.

Yesasvi Koganti is an undergraduate student from the Department of Political Science, Madras Christian College, Chennai


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