Strengthening multilateralism in a multipolar world: On the contribution of this year’s G7 and G20 Summits and suggested next steps for the EU
Many countries in the Global South have refrained from condemning the grave violation of international law that Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine represents. They do not support Russia, China, or the US. Given the growing weight of the Global South, finding common ground with it is essential for the EU and like-minded countries to strengthen multilateralism. In this respect, this year’s G7 and G20 presidencies of Japan and India provide a welcome opportunity, as both are keen to do so, and the EU is a member of the G7 and the G20. While the topics of Ukraine and China dominated the G7 summit in Hiroshima from 19-21 May, much attention was also paid to the needs of countries in the Global South. India is similarly pressing their case under its G20 presidency. In this context, the EU could develop and implement a dedicated Strategy for Engagement with the Global South to support multilateralism in the run-up to next year’s UN-led Summit of the Future, which aims to rekindle multilateralism with the UN at its core. A key challenge in such efforts will remain the strategic competition between the US and China, which complicates multilateral cooperation. The EU will also face choices on whether and how to cooperate with partners that do not share its values.
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