Geneva/New Delhi, Jan 30: After India and the European Union finalized a landmark free trade agreement designed to unite a market of two billion people – UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has hailed the pact and noted the importance of such partnerships in building a multipolar world. During a press briefing,
Guterres said that he views these recent trade developments with “a lot of positive expectations,” placing the India-EU deal alongside other major international collaborations.
The agreement was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President Antonio Costa. The leaders presented a comprehensive five-year agenda aimed at leveraging trade and defense to maintain a stable international order.
In addition to the trade pact, the leaders signed two significant agreements focusing on security and defense collaboration. Another key agreement focuses on the mobility of Indian professionals to Europe, facilitating a smoother exchange of talent across borders. These developments occurred during summit talks hosted by Prime Minister Modi.
The Secretary-General said that the shift in global economic activity requires institutions to adapt. He noted that emerging economies are gaining influence, making it essential for global structures to reflect these “new times and realities.”
“We need to support a dense set of relations among different countries,” Guterres said during his address on global priorities. He noted that the network created by such trade and technology agreements provides the necessary conditions for strong multilateral institutions.
The Prime Minister and European leaders indicated that the five-year roadmap will focus on protecting a rules-based world order. This collaboration is viewed as a strategic move to ensure that international cooperation remains inclusive and capable of balancing global interests through diverse partnerships.
