Potential superpower

A potential superpower is a state or other polity that is speculated to be or have the potential to become a superpower, a state or supranational union that holds a dominant position characterized by the ability to exert influence or project power on a global scale through economic, military, technological, political, and/or cultural means.

Currently, only the United States fulfills the criteria to be considered a superpower, though this has been questioned in recent years. At present only China, the European Union, India, and Russia have consistently been academically discussed as having the potential to attain superpower status.