Onome Amuge
Global cooperation is proving more resilient than many policymakers fear, even as the multilateral system struggles under geopolitical strain, according to a new World Economic Forum report that finds countries increasingly turning to smaller, more flexible alliances to pursue shared interests.
The Global Cooperation Barometer 2026, developed with McKinsey & Company, concludes that the overall level of international cooperation has remained unchanged in recent years. Beneath that apparent stability, however, the composition of cooperation is improving, with progress strongest where collaboration aligns closely with national priorities; notably climate, natural capital, and innovation and technology, and weakest in peace and security.
The findings showcase a reordering of global engagement at a time of heightened geopolitical rivalry, trade fragmentation and protracted conflict. Rather than relying on universal institutions, governments and companies are forging narrower coalitions, often regional, to advance economic resilience, technological capacity and energy security.
“Amid one of the most volatile and uncertain periods in decades, cooperation has shown resilience. While cooperation today may look different than it did yesterday, collaborative approaches are essential to grow economies wisely and accelerate innovation responsibly,” said Børge Brende, president and chief executive of the World Economic Forum.
Now in its third year, the barometer tracks 41 indicators across five pillars including trade and capital; innovation and technology; climate and natural capital; health and wellness; and peace and security. Taken together, the metrics indicate that global cooperation is falling short of what is required to address mounting economic, security and environmental challenges, even where momentum has improved.
Trade and capital cooperation has flattened, remaining above pre-pandemic levels but increasingly shaped by geopolitical alignment. Global goods volumes have continued to grow, though more slowly than the world economy, while services trade and selected capital flows show greater dynamism among aligned economies. At the same time, the multilateral trade system faces rising barriers, prompting countries to explore smaller groupings such as the Future of Investment and Trade partnership.
Innovation and technology cooperation has strengthened, despite tighter controls on sensitive resources and knowledge. Cross-border flows of IT services and skilled talent have increased, and international data capacity is now four times larger than before the Covid-19 pandemic. Restrictions, particularly between the US and China, have expanded, but new formats for collaboration on artificial intelligence, 5G infrastructure and other advanced technologies are emerging among allied nations.
Climate and natural capital cooperation recorded one of the strongest gains, though progress remains insufficient to meet global targets. Clean-technology deployment reached record levels in mid-2025, supported by increased financing and global supply chains. China accounted for roughly two-thirds of new solar, wind and electric vehicle capacity, while other developing economies also accelerated investment. As multilateral climate negotiations become more contested, blocs such as the EU and the Association of South-East Asian Nations are pairing decarbonisation efforts with energy security strategies.
Health and wellness cooperation held steady, masking growing fragilities. While health outcomes continued to improve after the pandemic, support flows have come under intense pressure. Development assistance for health has contracted sharply, with further tightening in 2025, hitting low- and middle-income countries hardest as multilateral institutions struggle to maintain funding.
The heaviest deterioration was recorded in peace and security. Every tracked metric in the pillar fell below pre-pandemic levels as conflicts escalated, military spending rose and multilateral crisis-resolution mechanisms faltered. By the end of 2024, the number of forcibly displaced people had reached a record 123mn worldwide. The report notes, however, that mounting pressures could yet spur greater regional cooperation, including through peacekeeping initiatives.
Bob Sternfels, global managing partner of McKinsey, said leaders were “reimagining collaboration across borders” as global divisions deepen. “Cooperation may look different today, and involve different partners, but it continues to deliver on some critical shared priorities,” he said.
The barometer concludes that sustaining cooperation in a fragmented world will require new structures, from targeted trade agreements to standards-setting alliances, and a greater role for public-private and private-private partnerships. Above all, it argues, rebuilding open and constructive dialogue will be essential if countries are to identify and advance shared interests in an increasingly uncertain global economy.
