New Delhi: US has weakened international organisations and multilateralism is under threat, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel said while delivering the inaugural Dr Manmohan Singh lecture. Referring to Russia’s attack on Ukraine, she said the principle of territorial integrity in Europe was violated, forcing the European order “into a corner”.”The right of 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 shaken. “US under Trump weakened international organisations such as WHO, World Trade Organization and the Paris Climate Agreement. They even question the role of UN or replace it with unilateral action. The previous order of cooperation is being replaced by one in which might means right,” said Merkel, who served as Germany’s chancellor for 16 years.The former chancellor made a strong pitch for multilateral cooperation, saying giving up on it in times of rising protectionism was not an option.
