Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday attended the inaugural session of the Raisina Dialogue 2026 in New Delhi, where global leaders, policymakers and experts gathered to discuss pressing geopolitical and geo-economic challenges.
“Attended the Inaugural Session of the Raisina Dialogue 2026. Heard the insightful address of President Alexander Stubb of Finland, in which he covered a wide range of subjects,” the Prime Minister said in a post on X.
The eleventh edition of the Raisina Dialogue, widely regarded as India’s flagship conference on geopolitics and geoeconomics, was jointly inaugurated by PM Modi and Stubb on March 5. The annual event is hosted by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Opening the proceedings, ORF President Samir Saran said that over the past eleven years the forum has remained committed to “unpacking the present to help shape the future.” He noted that the theme of the 2026 edition – “Samskara” – reflects a world in which nations are asserting their identities and refining their paths of progress.
ORF Chairman Sunjoy Joshi observed that while many contemporary conflicts are driven by old impulses, their scale and impact have been amplified by modern technology. Addressing these challenges, he said, would require new coalitions, innovative governance approaches and deeper intellectual engagement.
In his keynote address, President Stubb highlighted the complementarities between India and Finland, noting that Finland has consistently been ranked the “happiest country in the world,” while India remains among the most optimistic nations globally. He said the future global order should build on the combined strengths of happiness and optimism that the two countries represent.
Stubb also pointed to shifting global power dynamics, stating that the balance of power is moving toward the Global South, which has demographic and economic advantages. Calling for reforms in global governance, he proposed expanding the United Nations Security Council to include additional permanent members from Asia, Africa and Latin America, and reiterated his support for India’s permanent membership.
The Finnish President also praised PM Modi’s efforts to harness artificial intelligence for inclusive development, noting India’s ambition to take AI technologies to the grassroots level.
Delivering the vote of thanks, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar commended the Raisina Dialogue for its openness, diversity and dynamic exchange of ideas. He expressed confidence that the forum would continue to shape global conversations on emerging capabilities, new mindsets and evolving governance frameworks.
The first day of the conference also featured discussions with prominent international figures, including US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau; former Denmark PM Anders Fogh Rasmussen; Secretary General of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Italy Benedetta Berti; and former G20 Sherpa, India Amitabh Kant, among others.
(With ANI inputs)
