multilateral
Involving multiple nations
Multilateral means involving more than two parties, typically nations or organizations acting together.
It contrasts with bilateral (two parties) and unilateral (one party acting alone).
The term appears most often in diplomacy and international relations: multilateral trade agreements, multilateral negotiations, multilateral sanctions.
A multilateral approach seeks consensus among multiple stakeholders rather than separate deals or independent action.
Shared position between parties
- pactFormal agreement between parties
- conventionAgreed standard of behavior
- accordHarmony between parties
- charterFounding organizational document
covenant · protocol · signatories · ratification · provisions · articles · annex · amendment
Formal union of parties
- coalitionTemporary alliance for action
- partnershipShared business arrangement
- collaborationJoint intellectual work
- consensusGeneral group agreement
collective · coordination · joint · mutual · reciprocal · unified · harmonization · synergy
Official diplomatic residence abroad
- consulateForeign diplomatic office
- envoyAccredited diplomatic representative
- ambassadorOfficial foreign representative
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
summit · dialogue · protocol · accord · delegation · mediation · statecraft · diplomat
agreement
Shared position between parties
- pactFormal agreement between parties
- conventionAgreed standard of behavior
- accordHarmony between parties
charter · covenant · protocol · signatories · ratification · provisions · articles · annex · amendment · compact
alliance
Formal union of parties
- coalitionTemporary alliance for action
- partnershipShared business arrangement
- collaborationJoint intellectual work
consensus · collective · coordination · joint · mutual · reciprocal · unified · harmonization · synergy · teamwork
embassy
Official diplomatic residence abroad
- consulateForeign diplomatic office
- envoyAccredited diplomatic representative
- ambassadorOfficial foreign representative
negotiation · summit · dialogue · protocol · accord · delegation · mediation · statecraft · diplomat · attaché
polygon
Multisided plane figure
heptagon · octagon · nonagon · decagon · dodecagon · polyhedron · vertex · angle · side · perimeter
NATO
Western defense organization
- WTOGlobal commerce regulator
- IMFGlobal economic assistance organization
- G20Top economies' coordination body
G7 · UNESCO · WHO · intergovernmental · ASEAN · OPEC · APEC · EU · OECD · forum
- governancegovernance, government, democracy, vote, parliament
- tradetrade balance, free trade, trade barriers, customs, trade deficit
- Global Politicsforeign affairs, international affairs, global affairs, world politics, foreign relations
- arms controlarms control, disarmament, nonproliferation, arms deals, arms reduction
- diplomacy termsprotocol, treaty, accord, pact, agreement
- Global DiplomacyUN, United Nations, embassy, NATO, NATO summit
multilateralunilateral
Affecting one side only
bilateral · one-sided · two-sided · single-party · individual
multilateralunilateral
Affecting one side only
unilateralist · go-it-alone · isolationist · independent · autonomous