Uday Kotak Predicts Global Tensions Escalating Towards a New Colonial Era

Global Colonialism on the Rise, Warns Uday Kotak

Industrialist and veteran banker Uday Kotak has sounded the alarm on a shift towards global colonialism, sparked by the West Asia war and United States President Donald Trump's rhetoric on the conflict. Speaking at an event organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in Mumbai on April 7, Kotak, the non-independent director and founder of private sector lender Kotak Mahindra Bank, cautioned that the current geopolitical situation mirrors a similar phase seen in the early 20th century.

The current situation, according to Kotak, is eerily reminiscent of the period between 1927 and 1947, when FICCI fought against global colonialism. Now, in 2026, the world is at the cusp of another such phase, where economic and strategic control increasingly determines global power dynamics. Kotak emphasized that his comments were not political, but an observation of global developments, citing Trump's speech in the White House as evidence.

In the context of India's place in the new global world order, Kotak urged the country to prioritize strengthening the weakest segment of "middle manufacturing" to support long-term economic resilience, improve industrial depth, and achieve greater economic self-reliance. This includes companies that invest between ₹100 crore to ₹1,000 crore in projects. Kotak also called upon large corporate groups and companies to step up investments in research, development, and innovation to enhance competitiveness and sustain long-term growth for the country.

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The warning comes as US President Donald Trump has given Iran a 48-hour ultimatum to open the Strait of Hormuz, sparking concerns about a potential conflict in the region. In a recent post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump wrote, "A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again," adding that he doesn't want that to happen, "but it probably will."