Grey zones, proxy wars and a changing world order

The world is entering a new era of grey-zone conflicts where traditional international institutions are increasingly struggling to manage evolving geopolitical tensions, said Daniel Benaim, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Arabian Peninsula Affairs, during his keynote address at the Maharana Pratap Annual Geopolitics Dialogue (MPAGD) 2026 held recently in Udaipur.

Benaim emphasized that the model of international cooperation based on “shared values” is increasingly failing to sustain effective interstate partnerships in the current geopolitical climate, while highlighting that U.S. foreign policy is undergoing a significant transition in response to changing global realities.

The Usanas Foundation organized the fifth edition of the Maharana Pratap Annual Geopolitics Dialogue (MPAGD) 2026 in March in Udaipur, in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. The two-day international conference centered on the theme “Chakravyuh to Shanti Parv: From Conflict to Consensus.”


Governor of Bihar, Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain, attended the event as the Chief Guest.

The dialogue also witnessed the presence of Maharana Vishwaraj Singh Mewar, the 77th Maharana of Mewar. Dr. Anita Jain, Director of the Usanas Foundation, opened the conference by outlining the broader intellectual framework of the Dialogue. Dr. Jain further highlighted that climate instability and geopolitical instability are no longer separate challenges; they are increasingly intertwined.

Dr. Abhinav Pandya, Founder of the Usanas Foundation, highlighted how great power rivalries today are driven by ideological conflicts, technological competition, struggles for supply chain dominance, and the transition toward a multipolar world order.

The two-day dialogue featured in-depth discussions on Great Power Rivalries and the Changing Global Order, as well as pressing security concerns such as disruptors and proxies, the role of non-state actors, transnational terrorism, Pakistan’s terror networks, and the rise of radical Islam in South Asia. Experts also examined geoeconomic shifts, tariffs, and their impact on global strategic competition.

Brian Jenkins, advisor to the President of the RAND Corporation, highlighted that major powers increasingly rely on proxies to advance their strategic interests, citing examples such as the Vietnam War and the role of Syrian Kurds in contemporary conflicts. He also discussed how modern conflicts now integrate sabotage, espionage, disinformation campaigns, cyber warfare, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

The dialogue brought together over 30 distinguished speakers from across the world, including Damdin Tsogtbaatar, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia; Erik Grigoryan, Former Minister of Environment of Armenia; Amb. Sujan Chinoy; Amb. Gautam Bambawale, Former Ambassador of India to Bhutan and China and High Commissioner to Pakistan; Dr. C. Raja Mohan; Tejendra Khanna; Prof. (Dr.) Sreeram Sundar Chaulia; Amb. Anil Trigunayat; Amb. Anil Wadhwa; Sam Westrop; and Peter Knoope, among others.