New Delhi, February 26 Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday strongly advocated for multilateral cooperation, stating that in these times of protectionism, abandoning multilateralism was not an option.
Speaking at the inaugural Dr. Manmohan Singh Memorial Lecture here, Merkel referred to US-led protectionist trade policies and said that the global order had been disrupted.
She also called for regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) and new technologies, including social media, emphasizing that the world must come together to address this, as no single country can solve the problem.
Referring to the multiple challenges facing the world, including Russia's aggression against Ukraine, wars, and tariffs, Merkel said that the right of states to territorial integrity was being disregarded, and democracies were under pressure.
"What we are losing sight of is that life on Earth is in peril, and we have no choice but to cooperate on a multilateral basis," she said.
Merkel called for joint action by the international community on global challenges such as climate change and the protection of biodiversity and oceans.
The lecture, the first in the series, was organized by the Manmohan Singh Trust, which commemorates the legacy of the late prime minister, known for ushering in economic reforms in the country.
Singh was India's 14th Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014. His family now runs the trust.
Singh's wife, Gursharan Kaur, and Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, former Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra, and other dignitaries, including diplomats, were present at the lecture.
Merkel said that the US is weakening international organizations and openly questioning the role of the United Nations and its Security Council as a platform for resolving conflicts, adding that the cooperation order known so far has been replaced with the dictum "might makes right".
"In Europe, the principle of territorial integrity was violated with Russia's attack on Ukraine, thus forcing the European order into a corner after the Second World War," she said.
"Therefore, the right of territorial integrity and sovereignty was trampled. Multilateralism as a concept for our international cooperation is under pressure," she said.
"The USA, under President Donald Trump, has weakened international organizations such as the World Health Organization, the World Trade Organization, or the Paris Climate Agreement. They have also openly questioned the role of the United Nations as a platform for international cooperation. Thus, the previous order of cooperation is replaced by an order in which might means right, instead of the strength of right," Merkel said.
"If the world's largest economy, the US, were to withdraw from multilateralism, 'of course we would have a problem'," she said.
"But that shouldn't stop the rest of the world from cooperating, because this cooperation will also have repercussions. I don't believe that any country in the world can solve the problems that arise on its own. We all depend on partnerships, and that will change," she asserted.
Merkel also recalled Manmohan Singh's address to the US Congress in 2005, where he had said that "the real test of democracy is not what is stated in the Constitution but how it functions on the ground", as she stressed that nations should not make any compromises on democracy.
She said that when protectionist trade warnings are stifling growth, Singh's warnings are in order.
Merkel also lauded the path shown by Singh in promoting multilateralism, praising the economic reforms initiated by the former prime minister, which she described as courageous.
She said that Singh's reforms took India on the path of economic growth for 30 years, with a growth of more than 5 per cent in the past many years, holding great potential for the country in the future.
Describing Singh as a simple man who rose from a humble background, she said he had a strong personal integrity and had the ability to convince people but was not intimidating.
The topic of the lecture was 'Germany and India in times of global change'.
Merkel spoke in German, which was simultaneously translated into English.
She later engaged in a conversation with former Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon.
Merkel also lauded India's growth over the years, and said that being the most populous country on Earth, it has for many years seen an annual economic growth of over 5 per cent and thus has an "inescapable economic development potential for the future".
Noting that India has a younger population compared to Germany, she said the country also has a demographic advantage.
Calling for regulation of AI and global technology, including social media, Merkel said if regulations are not introduced, "multilateralism will ossify".
"Technology should be subjected to regulation. Regulation for AI applications is needed. Such a demand may seem utopian. When countries like China are either setting their own rules or trying to prevent regulation, a way must be found to pave the way for regulations. If not, multilateralism would ossify," Merkel said.
She also said that new technologies, including social media and AI, enable us to call truths as lies and lies as truths.
"This has a serious impact on democracy and freedom of expression," she cautioned.
Merkel asserted that there must be accountability for the operators of social media platforms and recalled how attempts were being made, particularly in the United States, to evade this responsibility.
She also hoped that the event could make a very small contribution to the strengthening of ties between India and Germany, recalling how the first inter-governmental consultations were started under Singh and her when she was at the helm in Germany.
Singh's daughter, Upender Singh, welcomed the guests and presented a brief history of his life. Her sister Daman Singh thanked Merkel and all those who attended the event.