Opinion At G20, ACITI alliance between Australia, Canada and India is the clearest sign that global tech power is going multipolar

ACITI represents more than just a diplomatic handshake; it is a textbook case of the geopolitics of technology in action, signalling that in an era of receding hegemons and fragmented multilateralism, middle powers and rising powers are stepping into the vacuum to secure their technological futures.

The partnership must be understood against the backdrop of a global order defined by “techno-nationalism”. The era of unbridled globalisation, where supply chains were dictated solely by economic efficiency, is effectively over. It has been replaced by a security-first logic, precipitated by the culmination of the US-China trade war into a full-blown technology war, and exacerbated by the supply chain shocks caused by Covid.

The weaponisation of interdependence has exposed the vulnerabilities of nations that rely on single-source geographies for critical inputs. India, despite its strategic autonomy, has faced uncomfortable dependencies on China for everything from Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) to the rare earth elements (REEs) required for electronics and defence. Similarly, the “China shock” has forced Ottawa and Canberra to reassess their economic exposure to Beijing.

The return of “America First” policies under the second Trump presidency has added a layer of geo-economic complexity. Countries can no longer rely on the old security umbrellas or free-market certainties. Instead, they are being compelled to form “coalitions of the willing” — minilateral alliances aimed at offsetting the pressures of great power competition.

ACITI demonstrates the shift from broad, cumbersome multilateral consensus (like WTO or UN) to agile, issue-based minilateralism. We have seen this with the Quad (India, US, Japan, Australia) shifting its centre of gravity from maritime security to critical technologies, and with the India-US Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET), later rebranded as Transforming the Relationship Utilising Strategic Technology (the India-US TRUST) initiative. Even AUKUS, primarily a defence pact, has a significant “Pillar II” focused on advanced capabilities like quantum and AI.

ACITI adds a unique dimension: It brings together two resource-rich Global North economies with the scale and human capital of the Global South’s leading power. This is not an alliance based on a military treaty, but a partnership based on “technological sovereignty”. It acknowledges that dual-use technologies — semiconductors, quantum computing, and AI — are now the central pillars of national security. The partnership capitalises on the natural strengths of its members, creating a closed-loop ecosystem that few other groupings can match.

The transition to Net Zero and the digital economy is built on lithium, cobalt, and rare earths. Australia and Canada are mining superpowers, possessing vast reserves of these strategic minerals. However, both have largely been exporters of raw ore, often processed in China. India, seeking to boost its manufacturing sector, offers a destination for these minerals. The partnership envisages a “friend-shoring” model where Australian and Canadian mines feed directly into Indian processing and manufacturing hubs, bypassing hostile geographies and ensuring a secure supply chain for green energy and electronics.

Canada is a global heavyweight in foundational AI research, home to some of the pioneers of deep learning. Australia possesses significant deep-tech research ecosystems in quantum and robotics. India, conversely, brings the world’s largest democratic talent pool. Discussions at the upcoming India-Canada Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee meeting are expected to prioritise this integration, specifically exploring how Canadian foundational AI models can be deployed atop India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). This would allow for the creation of population-scale solutions in health and finance.

The Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation Partnership is a beacon in a darkening geopolitical landscape. It validates the theory that in a multipolar world, technology is the primary currency of power. By forging this alliance, these three democracies are sending a strong message: They will not be bystanders in the US-China tech war. Instead, they are actively moving beyond old structures to secure their place in the high-tech global order. For the India-Canada relationship specifically, ACITI represents the fact that shared interests in technologies of the future outweigh the disagreements of the past.

Bhagat is assistant professor, Centre for the Study of the Americas, School of International Studies, JNU. Kumar is PhD Candidate, Centre for Studies in Science Policy, School of Social Sciences, JNU