Higher GDP won't be enough. Our GDP has been higher than Canada but the Kalistani movement still happened.
While a higher GDP is non-negotiable, what we need is influence. Germany has a lot of economic dependence on China. We don't really hold any 'leverage' per se and can't coerce other countries to align with our views. Saudi has a far lower GDP than ours but punches above its weight due to oil. Same for Qatar. It's not just how big your economy is, but how your economy is.
Until we grow so big that we can force other nations just by the weight of our economy, we need to actively build economic clout.
There are several ways of establishing influence and control over other country.
Cultural: This is largely irrelevant. Indian cultural ties with Indonesia or Pakistan.
Geographic: Turkey Controls the entry of ships to Busy Russian ports and hence has bargaining chip against it. Same goes for Russia with Stan Countries. China with Mongolia etc.
Economic: This is when your country's financial institution is dominated by foreign investment, loans, trade agreements, Export, Import. Europeans countries are expert in this matter you will see that Major African countries are almost run by European investment and money.
Other than that our Energy sector is dominated by German machinery, from thermal power plants to manufacturing industries you name it.
European Countries bully other countries into submission by means of various embargo.
As of now West is the largest consumer market of high value goods and source of our IT revenue as well. We too are under their shadow.