Minilateralism in the Framework of Multilateralism: Synthesis of Trends

The article analyzes the tendency of the minilateral agreement format as a more effective mechanism for solving modern geopolitical challenges, compared to the multilateralism traditions. Regional platforms for international economic cooperation such as the EU and ASEAN are gradually being supplanted by “global” mini-plurilateralism, while the vast majority of Indo-Pacific players practice narrowly focused on minilateralism, on par with traditional multilateral institutions. Although mini-party structures cannot completely replace multi-format organizations to achieve “real” global cooperation, they can complement their activities by creating an additional platform for diplomacy within a narrow circle of “willings” who share the same views on the agenda during the allotted period. Synthesizing the structural approach with the case study method, the author searches for optimal ways of combining the preferences of the minilateral format with the multilateral institutions’ procedures through the collaborative platform creation for joint actions. The article specifies the cases of minilateral agreements in the security, infrastructure, and economic spheres in the EU countries and the Indo-Pacific region, and also notes the risks of complete replacement by minilateralism, namely: delegitimization of traditional international actors, fragmentation of political standards and norms, inconsistency of national positions with global obligations, increasing the level of tension and mistrust between the leading geopolitical actors. The author considers the rationalization of investment flows concerning mini-layered projects as one of the optimal ways, firstly, the implementation of joint measures subordinated to a common goal, rather than the multiplication of autonomous agreements and obligations.