New Delhi, Jan. 27 -- The United States has become less of a dominant world power over the last two decades. And China has risen to the level of a near-peer adversary to the US, despite spending only a third as much as the US on its annual defence expenditure. This much is true.

The next five countries combined in defence spending-Russia, India, Saudi Arabia, the UK, and Germany-spend about half of what the US does annually.

Of course, defence spending alone does not count towards becoming a 'pole.'

In strategic terms, a 'pole' is a country that is able to exert its influence over the world or a large region through its military might, trade and economic standards, economic wealth (a reservoir to create future strength), technological ...