India to attend session on UN-based multilateralism, Pg11

Key Highlights:

• India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar attended the "Partners for Multilateralism" (P4M) meeting at the United Nations.
• The P4M initiative, founded by the European Union, Brazil, Kenya, and Canada, aims to support UN-based multilateralism and reform.
• The initiative seeks to move away from "Superpower" politics and address global challenges like AI, climate change, health security, and digital transformation.
• UN Secretary-General António Guterres highlighted the "limits" of superpower power, advocating for collective action.

Detailed Insights:

• The meeting took place during the UN General Assembly’s “High-Level debate” session in New York.
• Founding leaders, including European Council President Antonio Costa, Brazil President Lula da Silva, Kenyan President William Rutto, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, co-authored an editorial on P4M.
• P4M aims to make the UN and other multilateral institutions more representative, legitimate, effective, and trusted.
• The initiative is described as a flexible, open framework for countries to build coalitions for reform, not an exclusive bloc or international bureaucracy.
• The article notes that 2025 saw the highest number of state-based armed conflicts since 1946 (35 countries) and nearly $3 trillion in military spending.
• The initiative signals growing dissatisfaction with unilateral actions by "superpowers" like Russia (war in Ukraine) and the United States (trade, tariffs, conflict in Iran).
• India is already part of other groupings with similar objectives, such as the Non-Aligned Movement, BRICS, G20, and G-4.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Multilateralism: Cooperation among several countries on common issues, often through international organizations.
• United Nations (UN): An intergovernmental organization established to promote international cooperation and maintain international peace and security.
• Partners for Multilateralism (P4M): A new initiative aimed at reforming the UN and strengthening multilateral cooperation among "middle powers."
• Middle Powers: States that are not superpowers but possess sufficient influence to play a significant role in international affairs and multilateral institutions.