Kathmandu, Oct. 23 -- Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle has questioned whether the changing global order is pushing countries away from traditional multilateral institutions towards smaller, more flexible partnerships among like-minded nations.

Wagle raised the issue during a panel discussion titled "The Geopolitics of Sovereign Choice" at the NDTV World Summit 2026 on Thursday. Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was the principal speaker.

Wagle said the international system was becoming increasingly fragmented as major powers showed less support for multilateralism, competing trade blocs emerged and countries placed greater emphasis on their own interests.

He asked whether bilateral, trilateral and subregional arrangements sho...