The third decade of the twenty-first century is witnessing an unprecedented reconfiguration of global power. The period 2020–2026 has been marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia – Ukraine war, the Israel – Palestine conflict, the Israel – Iran conflict, the America Iran conflict and intense US–China technological rivalry. These events have eroded American unipolarity and accelerated the emergence of a multipolar order. This paper analyzes the bilateral and trilateral dynamics among the United States, Russia, and China, examining how India—as a rising “system-shaper” and “Soft power” is safeguarding its national interests through the doctrine of “multi-alignment” and principled pragmatism.