The West should have interaction extra meaningfully with an emergent bloc of “swing states” if it needs to keep up affect on the worldwide stage, the German Marshall Fund, a Washington-based think-tank, mentioned in a brand new report on Tuesday.

The report’s authors recognized Brazil, India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Turkey as swing states that wield vital energy on the world stage, however which every have various preferences for cooperation outdoors the Western trans-Atlantic alliance.

Now greater than ever, these international locations maintain an growing quantity of sway in world affairs within the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and amid a rising rivalry between the United States and China.

“The West, erroneously, all too often lumps together the swing states and other countries that either choose to be or fall in between the two emerging global blocs as the Global South, but this label reflects a lack of intellectual rigor,” wrote Heather A. Conley, president of the German Marshall Fund.

“These countries are diplomatic and economic entrepreneurs at a moment of international opportunity.”

Flexibility required for worldwide cooperation

Brazil’s partnerships are pragmatic and its management doesn’t see cooperation with totally different companions similar to China, the EU, Russia and the US as mutually unique, the report mentioned.

The West ought to due to this fact cooperate extra on points of worldwide governance together with climate change and inequality, and embrace a shift away from conventional facilities of energy.

South Africa additionally advocates for a multipolar world order and identifies itself with the so-called Global South.

Western leaders can foster nearer cooperation by specializing in particular coverage areas which can be mutually advantageous, the report mentioned.

“The governments of these swing states do not see themselves choosing between two static poles,” wrote two of the report’s authors, Martin Quencez and Rachel Tausendfreund.

“They would rather prefer to regularly and prudently move from one option to another, issue by issue, as their particular interests and strategic analysts dictate.”

Balancing between main powers

India is shifting nearer in the direction of the West as its border disputes and financial rivalry with China warmth up, however its doctrine of strategic autonomy sees it keep heat ties with nations like Russia.

The report mentioned the West can have interaction extra successfully with India by eschewing an “us or them” mentality that isn’t suitable with India’s extra focused minilateral diplomacy.

Indonesia goals to stay outdoors of the rivalry between nice powers and manages its disputes within the South China Sea with out American help.

More than a century of Western abuses dedicated throughout colonialism and the Cold War imply that the West’s criticisms of recent intolerant insurance policies haven’t been obtained nicely by Indonesian lawmakers, based on the report.

“A more constructive foreign policy discourse can be centered around mutual respect for national sovereignty and multilateralism,” Quencez and Tausendfreund wrote.

“While the swing states generally acknowledge the risks posed by Russian and Chinese ambitions, they do not perceive the US or Europe as credible global champions of national sovereignty.”

Different companions for protection and commerce

Turkey’s technique has been a balancing act between the foremost powers in an effort to mitigate the affect of this rivalry, evidenced by its latest mediation in the war in Ukraine.

It stays a key member of NATO and an in depth financial companion of the EU, however views the world as “bigger than five” — a reference to the everlasting members of the United Nations Security Council.

Saudi Arabia additionally maintains shut safety ties with the West — on this case, the US — however counts Russia as a key OPEC+ companion and China as its main trading partner.

The West shouldn’t dismiss world mediation by different international locations, the report mentioned, as Riyadh shores up its personal place in anticipation of decreased American consideration to the Middle East.

Overall, the consultants mentioned the EU and US should present flexibility on cooperation, be open to non-Western help, and chorus from pushing geopolitical companions to make either-or decisions.

“Building relationships with decentralized political actors is also likely to have long-term benefits for all partners,” the authors mentioned.

Edited by: Wesley Dockery