Experts Debate the Future of Multilateralism as Global Power Shifts

During Donald Trump's 2025 visit to the United Nations, a stalled escalator and a malfunctioning teleprompter led him to quip about the UN's reliability, underscoring concerns about the institution's relevance. Analysts note that the UN, once the cornerstone of a post-war multilateral order, now faces calls for reform, especially its Security Council, which many say no longer reflects global realities. Opinions diverge: Finnish President Alexander Stubb predicts a new world order will crystallise in the next five years, whereas think-tank director Mark Leonard warns of a prolonged period of disorder without a clear US- or China-led system.

Experts such as Teresa Nogueira Pinto and Johannes Thimm highlight the United States' recent withdrawals from bodies like the WHO and UNESCO, and increased pressure on the International Criminal Court, as further destabilising forces. Meanwhile, regional initiatives—including the expanding BRICS bloc and the newly formed Mecca Defense Pact—illustrate a shift toward “minilateral” cooperation. The debate centers on whether this fragmentation will lead to a more violent, rule-less world or eventually give rise to new, perhaps regional, mechanisms for collective action.