Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 1
1
Acknowledged
Seize UN80 anniversary opportunity to lead discussion on future of global multilateralism
Recommendation
We welcome and recognise the strong leadership demonstrated by the Government in leading on the UK’s global ‘re-engagement,’ including at and through the United Nations. The impending 80th anniversary of the creation of the United Nations system in September 2025, and the ongoing United Nations 80 (UN80) reform agenda, represent an opportunity which the Government must seize to begin a discussion proactively on the future of multilateralism and the role the UK can play in this new system. (Conclusion,Paragraph 29)
Government Response Summary
The government agrees on the importance of the UN80 initiative and states it is committed to using its full range of diplomatic tools and has been an active participant in early negotiations. However, it does not outline specific new actions for proactively beginning a discussion on the future of multilateralism and the UK's role.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
2. HMG recognises the significant challenges faced by the multilateral system as highlighted by the Committee. HMG notes the contextual challenges of navigating a multi-polar world, complex conflicts, development and the climate and nature crises, as well as Russia’s violations of the UN Charter and disruption of multilateral fora. Internally, the UN is struggling with a liquidity crisis. Nonetheless, as set out in the 2025 Strategic Defence Review the UK remains committed to multilateralism. As explained in the UK’s 2025 National Security Strategy, “it remains the case—as it has been for many decades—that British interests are best served by the preservation of international security and effective multilateral cooperation on issues from economic stability to energy policy”. Multilateral cooperation remains crucial to tackle conflict and transnational issues, and HMG considers the UN’s founding purposes and principles as essential today as they were 80 years ago. 3. In this context HMG agrees with the Committee on the importance of the UN80 initiative, which presents a generational opportunity for UN reform. HMG is committed to using our full range of diplomatic tools to achieve these objectives and has been an active participant ‘in the room’ during early negotiations of UN80 initiatives, whilst in parallel building wider support through bilateral and mini-lateral engagement. 4. The following response provides further information on HMG’s approach to navigate this complexity.