How minilateralism is reshaping global order

Notwithstanding United States (US) President-elect Donald Trump's warning to the BRICS nations of 100% tariffs if the grouping created a new currency to challenge the US dollar, the future of the international order remains decisively minilateral.

- Happymon Jacob

Minilateralism is reshaping the international order, forging hitherto unlikely partnerships among countries to cooperate in specific geographies for targeted purposes.

Today, key discussions on global and regional public goods, norms, and solutions to global and regional challenges aren't taking place at the United Nations General Assembly or United Nations Security Council; minilateral platforms of like-minded partners have become the primary venues for such discussions (and action). Gone are the days of lengthy debates, disputes, lobbying, and consensus-building. Today, the world moves faster and more decisively, fueled by the rise of minilaterals. They are also engaged in conflict resolution albeit indirectly, by bringing together friendly and sometimes unfriendly States from diverse geographies to work on specific issues.

Two things stand out from an Indian point of view: India is pivotal to some of the most consequential minilateral arrangements today, and Delhi is keen on straddling both sides of the geopolitical divide. The reason behind Delhi's multi-aligned minilateral approach is geography. Positioned in South Asia, part of the Global South, and next to a rising China, India sees value in diversification over placing all its eggs in one basket.

Minilateralism is on the rise today for several reasons. The primary reason is the failure of multilateralism and the emergence of global challenges that lack effective global governance, which is driving the current push toward minilateral forums. The second reason is the rise of new powers and their desire to be regional poles in the international system. So, in a way, minilateralism is multipolarity lite: Minilaterals give rising powers the multipolar feeling, though not quite the real thing.