Truss positive India will play a huge leadership role in future

India has to be a key part of alternative structures such as the Quad and G7 that have gained prominence against the backdrop of the "rising threat of China" and the inability of the UN to resolve global issues, former British Prime Minister Liz Truss said on Saturday.

During a candid conversation at the 22nd Hindustan Times Leadership Summit, Truss contended that people in Britain want the "kind of revolution that Trump is delivering in America", including "taking on the Left-wing establishment, giving more power to people, giving more opportunities to businesses". She also said the "Trump revolution...is coming to Europe" due to the dissatisfaction in countries such as France and Germany.

Truss drew a distinction between India and China in terms of their commitment to democracy and rule of law, and said India would have a "huge leadership role to play in the future".

Truss, who was prime minister for 49 days and had served as foreign minister in the Boris Johnson government before that, expressed the hope that India and the UK will be able to conclude a free trade agreement (FTA) as it will open up opportunities for both sides in key sectors such as technology, defence and agriculture. She also sought to differentiate between Britain's concerns over illegal immigration and the legal mobility of citizens of countries that can be trusted on such matters.

"I think India's role in the Quad is very important with respect to the US, Australia and Japan, particularly as we see the rising threat of China taking place," she said.

"The UN, as a forum for resolving global issues, no longer functions. We've instead seen the rise of alternative structures like the Quad and the G7... I think we can see more of those types of developments and India ought to be a key part of those arrangements."

Truss added, "Regrettably, I think there's been a shift of power towards authoritarian regimes. We have never seen Iran so emboldened. We've never seen Russia...so emboldened. Or indeed China.