Angela Merkel warns against protectionism, calls for stronger multilateral cooperation

Former German chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday made a strong appeal for renewed global cooperation, warning that rising protectionism and unilateral actions were undermining the international order, while speaking at a lecture organised by the Manmohan Singh Trust to honour the former prime minister’s legacy. The event was attended by several political leaders and diplomats, including Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi .

Delivering the inaugural Dr Manmohan Singh Lecture in New Delhi, Merkel said multilateralism was under severe strain as major powers questioned long-standing institutions and norms. Referring to recent geopolitical and economic disruptions, she noted that the principle of territorial integrity was being eroded and democracies were facing growing pressure.

She cited Russia’s war against Ukraine as a turning point for Europe’s post-Second World War order and said the idea that “might makes right” was replacing respect for international law. Merkel also criticised the weakening of global bodies such as the United Nations, the World Health Organization and the World Trade Organization, arguing that cooperation had been replaced by unilateral decision-making under protectionist trade policies.

Without naming him directly at first, Merkel later referred to the period under Donald Trump , saying the withdrawal from agreements like the Paris Climate Accord had shaken confidence in multilateral frameworks.

Highlighting emerging challenges, Merkel called for international regulation of artificial intelligence and digital platforms, including social media. She warned that if countries failed to develop common rules, technological competition could further fragment the global system. “No single nation can solve these problems alone,” she said, stressing that cooperation was essential to protect both democracy and human security.

Merkel praised former Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh for his role in advancing economic reforms and promoting multilateral engagement. She recalled his 2005 address to the US Congress, noting his belief that democracy must be judged by how it functions in practice, not merely by constitutional ideals.

She described Singh as a leader of integrity who combined intellectual strength with humility and persuasion rather than intimidation. Merkel also lauded India’s sustained economic growth and youthful population, calling the country’s development potential “inescapable” in the decades ahead.

Merkel concluded by expressing hope that the lecture would further strengthen India-Germany relations at a time of profound global change.