New Delhi, November 28 (NationPress) India has achieved the third position in the Asia Power Index 2025, with the United States and China holding the top two rankings, as reported by a renowned global think tank. The Lowy Institute, based in Australia, recently published its annual Asia Power Index, which evaluates how nations, especially those in Asia, can influence their global surroundings.

According to the rankings, India is significantly ahead of many of its counterparts, although it lags behind China by a considerable margin. Both India and China have shown improvements in various metrics, yet the substantial gap remains. For the first time since 2019, Russia appears to be enhancing its overall power in the Asian region.

Another remarkable aspect of the report is India’s continuously expanding power, as it is predicted to surpass the threshold set by the Asia Power Index for “major power” status by 2025.

The seventh edition of the Asia Power Index assesses the strength of 27 nations and regions across Asia, utilizing 131 indicators across eight thematic categories, including Military Capability and Defence Networks, Economic Capability and Relationships, Diplomatic and Cultural Influence, along with Resilience and Future Resources.

The United States leads the rankings with a score of 81.7, maintaining its position as the undeniable leader. China comes in second with an overall score of 73.7 out of 100, marking a 1% increase in its overall score for 2025.

India holds the third position out of 27 regarding its comprehensive power, with an overall score of 40 out of 100, reflecting a 2% increase in its overall score. This rise in India's influence is attributed to a robust economic recovery following the Covid pandemic and its growing geopolitical impact.

The Lowy Institute pointed out, "India's economic and military capabilities have both seen enhancements in the 2025 edition of the Asia Power Index. Its economy has continued to progress strongly, and it has made minor advancements in geopolitical relevance—defined by international leverage, connectivity, and technology. Furthermore, India’s military capability has improved steadily."

Among other Asian nations, Russia is witnessing a resurgence, having established defence and economic partnerships with nations such as North Korea and China. Meanwhile, Japan's power remains consistent despite some negative results across various metrics, while other Southeast Asian countries exhibit slight improvements in their overall power for 2025.

As Australia grapples with the long-term challenge of maintaining its relative power in the region, China is seen gaining ground, narrowing the gap with the US by just a few points.