TOKYO: The world is facing a shortage of leadership clarity, not power, according to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Speaking at the Nikkei Forum on Navigating Strategic Uncertainty, Anwar urged renewed global cooperation to address mounting geopolitical challenges. He said effective leadership requires a clear sense of direction amid global uncertainty.
“The sailors of old could not predict every storm. They could not control the currents, nor could they see beyond every horizon. What they possessed was a clear sense of direction,” he said, Bernama reported.
He said the world does not lack power but clarity – with institutions needing reform and renewal rather than abandonment, cooperation preferred over division, and leadership requiring initiative rather than resignation.
“If we remain guided by these principles, I earnestly believe we can transform today’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities,” he said.
Anwar said today’s strategic uncertainty has been building over time, rather than emerging overnight, and warrants a closer look at its root causes, as many leaders remain bound by an outdated geopolitical mindset.
He said with this mindset, realpolitik and hegemonic considerations continue to fuel the pursuit of power under the guise of strategic security.
Anwar pointed out that the continuing tragedy in Gaza, tensions across the Middle East and their compounding global effects, as well as the prolonged war in Ukraine, underscore the fragility of peace and the limits of international consensus.
“These are urgent and pressing concerns directly impacting the very fabric of international order. But this is not all,” he said, adding that great-power rivalry in the region, particularly disputes in the South China Sea, threatens maritime stability and keeps South-East Asia on edge.
Anwar also highlighted the multilayered threat posed by North Korea, citing its nuclear programme and significant conventional and cyberwarfare capabilities.
He said leaders must have the courage to confront injustice and take a more proactive approach to peace and progress, noting that long before the emergence of modern states, the peoples of the Malay world and the Japanese archipelago had already learned to navigate uncertain waters.
“As maritime civilisations, we came to understand a simple truth: prosperity did not come from turning inward, but from engaging the wider world through trade, dialogue and cooperation,” he said.
Anwar said middle powers today face steep and cumulative challenges amid an increasingly complex strategic landscape. He added that while not all geopolitical currents can be controlled or disruptions predicted, countries with credibility must remain guided by clear principles to navigate the path ahead.
“We understand the aspirations of developing nations and the concerns of advanced economies. We are uniquely positioned to build bridges where others see divides and build consensus where others see discord,” he explained.
On artificial intelligence, Anwar warned that its future must not be shaped solely by a handful of technological powers or private corporations, cautioning against new forms of “digital colonisation” or technological domination.
He said developing countries must have a stronger voice in global rule-making, rejecting what he described as modern forms of technological domination.
“The answer lies in collaboration grounded in cooperation, trust and institutions capable of bringing together diverse interests,” he said.
Anwar’s address was the first item on the agenda at the 31st Nikkei Forum, held under the theme Working Together for a More Resilient and Prosperous Asia.
