India ranked fourth on Asia Power Index

NEWDELHI: India has been ranked fourth among 25 nations in an “Asia Power Index” created by an Australian think tank, which described the country as “a giant of the future” with “unfulfilled potential”.

The Lowy Institute unveiled its inaugural Asia Power Index in New York, giving a picture of the balance of power in a region with three of the world’s four largest economies. The US, included in the index as the “major external power in the region”, topped the ranking.

The index looked at eight measures — economic resources, military capability, resilience, future trends, diplomatic influence, economic relationships, defence networks and cultural influence. A country’s overall power is its weighted average across the eight measures.

India received an “overall power score” of 41.5 out of 100, ranking high in future trends, cultural influence, diplomatic influence, military capability and resilience, but trailing in economic relationships and defence alliances.

A post in The Interpreter, the think tank’s digital magazine, described India as “a giant of the future, with vast resources but unfulfilled potential”.

In contrast, the US received a score of 85 and topped in economic resources, military capability, defence networks, resilience and cultural influence.

China, ranked second with a score of 75.5, led in future trends, diplomatic influence and economic relationships.

The US remains the most powerful military force in Asia and is at the centre of several regional alliances that China cannot match. However, in terms of economic relationships, China scores over the US.