Partners for Multilateralism (P4M) 2026: India Joins New Global Platform for Reformed Multilateralism

Partners for Multilateralism (P4M) is a new international platform launched at UNGA 2026. Know its members, objectives, key focus areas and significance for India.

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India joined the inaugural Partners for Multilateralism (P4M) Summit held in New York on 21 September 2026, on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The initiative brings together the European Union, Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, India and Kenya as initial co-sponsors. It seeks to strengthen multilateral cooperation, uphold international law and promote peace, sustainable development and shared prosperity.

What is Partners for Multilateralism (P4M)?

P4M stands for Partners for Multilateralism.
It is an open and flexible international platform, rather than a formal treaty-based alliance.
It brings together countries from different regions and political traditions.
The initiative focuses on multilateralism, international law, peace and prosperity.
The platform aims to make global institutions more effective, representative, inclusive and responsive.

P4M: Initial Co-Sponsors

The initial co-sponsors are:

🇪🇺 European Union
🇦🇺 Australia
🇧🇧 Barbados
🇧🇷 Brazil
🇨🇦 Canada
🇮🇳 India
🇰🇪 Kenya

The grouping therefore brings together countries and a regional organisation representing different geographical regions and political perspectives.

Key Objectives of P4M

1. Reform of Multilateral Institutions

P4M supports reforms to make institutions such as the United Nations more representative, effective and capable of responding to contemporary challenges.

The declaration specifically supports efforts to reform and strengthen the UN, including initiatives such as UN80.

2. Upholding International Law

The initiative reaffirms principles of the UN Charter, including:

Sovereign equality
Territorial integrity
Peaceful settlement of disputes
Prohibition of the threat or use of force
International humanitarian law
Human rights and fundamental freedoms

3. Addressing Global Challenges

P4M seeks greater cooperation on issues that cannot be effectively handled by individual countries alone, including:

Artificial Intelligence
Climate change
Global health and pandemics
Digital transformation
Biodiversity and pollution
Sustainable development
International security

4. Economic and Supply-Chain Resilience

The platform also focuses on strengthening:

Global supply chains
International financial cooperation
Multilateral trade
Economic resilience
Food and energy security

At the P4M summit, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar highlighted concerns around the interconnected food, fuel, fertiliser and finance vulnerabilities and the need for stronger global safeguards.

Why is P4M Important for India?

For India, P4M provides another platform to advance its long-standing position on reformed multilateralism.

India has consistently advocated for greater representation of developing countries in global institutions and more participatory and transparent decision-making.

At the summit, Jaishankar emphasised the importance of international law, rules and norms, along with more participative deliberations and transparent decision-making in multilateral institutions.