India–EU Trade Deal Fuels Hope for a More Balanced Multipolar World: UN Chief

United Nations, Jan 2026 : United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday expressed strong optimism about the recently announced free trade agreement between India and the European Union, saying it carries “a lot of positive expectations” and could play an important role in strengthening global multipolarity.

Speaking at his annual press conference outlining priorities for the year, Guterres highlighted the significance of the India–EU agreement, which was formally announced earlier this week. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the pact as the “mother of all trade deals,” underscoring its scale and potential global impact.

Guterres emphasized that the world is currently witnessing an unhealthy concentration of power, largely dominated by two major players—the United States and China. He warned that such a structure is inadequate to address complex global challenges. “Global problems will not be solved by one power calling the shots,” he said. “Nor will they be solved by two powers carving the world into rival spheres of influence.”

Calling for a more stable and peaceful international order, Guterres stressed that multipolarity is essential to ensure equitable development and lasting peace. “For a stable world with sustained peace, where development is spread fairly, we need to support multipolarity,” he stated.

The UN chief underlined the need to accelerate the shift toward a networked and inclusive multipolar system, driven by cooperation rather than competition. He said such a framework should be capable of creating balance through strong partnerships in trade, technology, and international cooperation.

Referring to recent trade agreements, Guterres said he sees encouraging signs in growing economic partnerships involving the EU, including deals with Mercosur, Indonesia, and India. These agreements, he noted, help create networks of cooperation among a broader group of countries and institutions.

According to Guterres, such interconnected partnerships can pave the way for a true multipolar world, one in which collaboration prevails and the values enshrined in the UN Charter are upheld. He concluded that strengthening these global networks is key to addressing shared challenges and ensuring a more balanced and inclusive international order.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)