Partners for Multilateralism (P4M) [Prelims Bits]

23 Sep 2026

Tags: International Relations   Global Bodies   Global body reforms

Source: The Hindu

Context: India is set to participate in the P4M initiative at the United Nations, advocating stronger, more representative and effective multilateralism.

• P4M:Partners for Multilateralism — an open, flexible framework supporting UN and multilateral institutional reform.
• Founding members: European Union, Brazil, Kenya and Canada.
• Core objective: Make multilateral institutions more representative, legitimate, effective and trusted.
• Priority challenges: Artificial Intelligence (AI), climate change, health security and digital transformation.
• Approach: Seeks cross-regional cooperation and coalitions for reform rather than creating another exclusive international bloc.
• India: Participates in several multilateral groupings with related objectives, including BRICS, G20, Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and G4.
• United Nations General Assembly (UNGA): Its High-Level Debate is the annual opening of the General Assembly’s substantive session, bringing heads of state/government and senior representatives together.
• G4:India, Brazil, Germany and Japan cooperate on reform of the UN Security Council (UNSC), particularly permanent membership.
• UNSC reform vs UNGA: UNGA is the broad representative deliberative organ of the UN, while the UNSC has primary responsibility for international peace and security and includes 15 members.