US 'deliberately' lonelier as China rises, Jaishankar says

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the United States has "deliberately become a lonelier power" through a radical repositioning of its global posture, while China's rise drives sharp competition. Speaking at the Munich Leaders Meeting in New Delhi, he said this rivalry has led to a "weaponization of leverage" among countries. Emerging and middle powers are strengthening cooperation while hedging ties with both Washington and Beijing.