The announcement of the EU–India free trade agreement has been described, with some justification, as the “mother of all deals.” It links two of the world’s largest democratic markets in a comprehensive pact that slashes tariffs, opens selected services, and embeds cooperation in technology and security.
Despite bold announcments, it should not be underestimated that the world is, and will remain, multipolar. Not because it is neatly divided into smaller, self-contained units, but because it is shaped by multiple actors who, when their core interests are challenged, can align, coalesce, and become collectively decisive.
What I am saying is not a negation of multipolarity. But a discovery of an equilibrium approach that works for any given country. As more countries discover their equilibrium, the approaches are likely to one of the two equilibria I have described here.
Despite bold announcments, it should not be underestimated that the world is, and will remain, multipolar. Not because it is neatly divided into smaller, self-contained units, but because it is shaped by multiple actors who, when their core interests are challenged, can align, coalesce, and become collectively decisive.
What I am saying is not a negation of multipolarity. But a discovery of an equilibrium approach that works for any given country. As more countries discover their equilibrium, the approaches are likely to one of the two equilibria I have described here.