Middle powers advocate for multilateralism at UN General Assembly

At the 81st UN General Assembly, various middle powers advocated for increased multilateral cooperation to navigate a polarized global landscape. Leaders from France, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and Japan emphasized the need to restore multilateralism and mobilize collective strength to address shared global issues.

However, these efforts face challenges. Analysts from Eurasia Group note a contrast between these calls for cooperation and the stance of U.S. President Donald Trump, who stated there is “no global government.” Furthermore, middle powers often lack the unified coordination required to influence major conflicts, such as those in Ukraine or Iran, and frequently remain under the influence of superpowers like the United States and China.

In a related context of proactive diplomacy, Vietnamese General Secretary and President Tô Lâm emphasized at the Foreign Policy Association that international trust must be built through concrete cooperation results. This approach is reflected in Vietnam's bilateral relations, such as with Hungary, where both nations aim to increase trade to $2 billion annually, and with Malaysia, which saw a 19% increase in bilateral trade reaching $21.59 billion in 2025.