India, Canada, the European Union, Australia, Brazil, Barbados, and Kenya co-sponsored a joint declaration on multilateralism in New York on Sept. 21, 2026.

The seven initial co-sponsors signed the document to reaffirm their commitment to the United Nations Charter, international law, and the peaceful settlement of disputes. The declaration was issued from New York.

Key Commitments

The signatories addressed several global challenges and policy priorities:

• Uphold and enforce rules essential to international order while renewing and reforming the multilateral system to be more effective, representative, inclusive, and fit for purpose.
• Reaffirm commitment to sovereign equality, territorial integrity, and the prohibition of the threat or use of force.
• Support fair, open, resilient, predictable, and inclusive economic cooperation, including diversified global supply chains and reform of the multilateral trading system.
• Strengthen cooperation on emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and global health issues.
• Address rising inequalities within and among countries through joint efforts, including initiatives such as the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty and the International Panel on Inequality.
• Reform and strengthen multilateral institutions, particularly the United Nations through initiatives such as UN80, to better prevent conflict, respond to crises, and deliver sustainable development.

Geopolitical Context

The declaration cites growing polarisation, the spread of conflict, violations of international law, and increasing resort to power politics, protectionism, coercion, and the threat or use of force as threats to international peace and security.

It notes that economic interdependence is increasingly used as a source of leverage, disrupting trade, supply chains, investment, and development finance. The signatories also highlighted the triple planetary crisis of climate emergency, biodiversity loss, and pollution as requiring stronger cooperation.

Implementation Pathway

The signatories committed to regular exchanges open to partners from all regions of the world to foster dialogue, coordination, and practical cooperation. They agreed to work closer with regional organisations and support regional integration.

The document is available at https://pm.gc.ca .

The United States intends to pay $725 million towards its debt to the United Nations, according to a Reuters exclusive citing a congressional document. This disclosure comes as President Donald Trump met with UN chief Antonio Guterres, offering reassurance despite earlier criticism.

Diplomatic Stance

President Trump slammed the United Nations on Tuesday for failing to support American-led peace efforts. He stated that the organization has great potential but is not living up to it. Despite these criticisms, Trump reassured Guterres that the United States "100%" backs the world body.

Guterres highlighted the UN's strong peace mediation efforts during the meeting. He noted, however, that the organization lacks both carrots and sticks to enforce its mandates effectively.

What the Numbers Show

The disclosed $725 million payment represents a specific financial commitment towards outstanding dues. This figure stands in contrast to the broader diplomatic rhetoric, where operational criticism coexists with a pledge of total institutional support.