New Delhi: The United States has weakened international organisations and put multilateralism under strain, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel said while delivering the inaugural Dr Manmohan Singh Lecture.
Referring to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Merkel said the principle of territorial integrity in Europe had been violated, pushing the European order “into a corner”.
“The right to territorial integrity and sovereignty was trampled. Multilateralism as a concept for our cooperation is under pressure,” she said, adding that the global order had been deeply shaken.
Merkel argued that the US under Donald Trump weakened key international institutions such as the World Health Organization, the World Trade Organization and the Paris Climate Agreement. She also said Washington had questioned the role of the United Nations and, at times, opted for unilateral action instead.
“The previous order of cooperation is being replaced by one in which might means right,” Merkel said, reflecting on shifts in global governance.
Having served as Germany’s chancellor for 16 years, Merkel made a strong case for preserving multilateral cooperation. In a time of rising protectionism and geopolitical tensions, she said, abandoning multilateralism was not an option.
