Tony Abbott Predicts India’s PM Could Become World’s Top Democratic Leader in 2050s
Ex-Australian PM Tony Abbott says India may lead global democracies in coming decades.
Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott declared India as the future epicenter of global leadership, predicting that its Prime Minister could emerge as the “leader of the free world” within 40 to 50 years. Speaking at the NDTV World Summit 2025 on October 17, 2025, Abbott positioned India as a rising democratic superpower and a critical counterweight to China’s hegemonic ambitions in the Asia-Pacific, calling for stronger ties with Australia and other democratic nations.
Abbott highlighted India’s three key advantages over China—its democratic governance, adherence to the rule of law, and widespread use of the English language—as catalysts for an economic and military “take-off” akin to China’s ascent decades ago. He pointed to India’s infrastructure boom and recent free trade agreements, like those with Australia in 2022 and the UK in September 2025, as evidence of a global shift away from China. Emphasizing India’s role in checking Beijing’s “world domination” dreams, Abbott warned that China’s aggressive posturing, particularly toward Taiwan, demands a united democratic front to deter potential escalations.
Addressing the ongoing war in Ukraine, Abbott argued that Russia’s invasion might have been prevented had Ukraine been part of NATO, underscoring the need for robust alliances to counter authoritarian threats. He urged democratic nations to remain vigilant, stating, “Weakness is provocative,” and stressed that preparedness is key to deterring China’s territorial ambitions, especially in Taiwan. Abbott’s remarks framed India as a pivotal player in maintaining global stability, leveraging its demographic and democratic strengths to rival China’s influence.
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Abbott also critiqued US President Donald Trump’s recent 25% tariffs on Indian goods, imposed as a penalty for India’s Russian oil purchases. Calling it a misstep, he noted that China, a larger buyer of Russian oil, escaped similar measures. Abbott further reflected on historical US misjudgments, particularly its Cold War tilt toward Pakistan—a “military dictatorship with an Islamist streak”—over India’s liberal democracy. He advocated for deeper US-India cooperation, recognizing New Delhi as a “reliable partner” for the West.
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