The minilateral moment is passing

(Abhinandan Kumar – Lowy The Interpreter) In diplomacy, 2026 was hailed as the year size doesn’t matter, with “minilateralism” praised at the World Economic Forum as the future of international cooperation. Frustrated by the slow pace and political deadlock that hampered large multilateral institutions – most notably the United Nations and the World Trade Organisation – smaller, more flexible coalitions have organised around specific objectives. The model promised speed, efficiency, and the ability to bring together a limited number of countries to address pressing challenges. From the Quad to BRICS to IMEC, minilateralism appeared the fashion of the age. But there are growing signs the model is under strain. The first problem is one of overlap. Minilateralism has proliferated to such an extent that the international landscape is now crowded with coalitions, initiatives, and dialogue mechanisms trying to solve the same puzzle from different ends. As new coalitions continue to emerge, it becomes harder to determine what unique purpose each serves. This problem is particularly acute for middle powers. Much of the enthusiasm for minilateralism came from countries seeking alternatives to both great-power dominance and cumbersome multilateral processes. As memberships overlap and agendas converge, the burden of participation grows while the marginal benefits diminish. The result is a form of coalition fatigue. States find themselves attending more meetings, issuing more joint statements, and participating in more working groups without necessarily achieving proportionately greater outcomes. – The minilateral moment is passing | Lowy Institute