Global cooperation adapts under pressure but remains below what the world needs - WEF

Global cooperation is proving more resilient than expected despite deepening geopolitical tensions, but it is increasingly fragmented and falling short of what is required to address mounting economic, security and environmental risks.

This is according to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Cooperation Barometer 2026, which was released on Thursday ahead of the WEF's 2026 Annual Meetings in Davos later this month.

The Barometer, now in its third year and developed in collaboration with McKinsey & Company, shows that while overall levels of global cooperation have remained broadly unchanged in recent years, the form of cooperation is shifting.

According to WEF, traditional multilateral mechanisms are under strain, giving way to smaller, more agile coalitions of countries and, in some cases, private-sector players that are stepping in to fill gaps left by weakened global institutions

The study tracks 41 indicators across five pillars: trade and capital; innovation and technology; climate and natural capital; health and wellness; and peace and security.

It finds that cooperation has strengthened in areas where global priorities align more closely with national interests, notably climate, nature and technology, while stagnating or declining in others, particularly peace and security

“Amid one of the most volatile and uncertain periods in decades, cooperation has shown resilience,” said WEF President and CEO, Børge Brende.

“While cooperation today may look different than it did yesterday, collaborative approaches are essential to grow economies wisely, accelerate innovation responsibly and prepare for the challenges of a more uncertain era. Flexible, nimble and purpose-driven approaches are most likely to withstand the current turbulence and deliver results.”

The WEF said trade and capital cooperation has flattened, remaining above pre-pandemic levels but showing signs of structural change. Global goods trade volumes have continued to grow, though at a slower pace than the world economy, while flows are increasingly shifting towards more politically aligned partners.

Services trade and select capital flows have gained momentum, particularly where they support domestic industrial and strategic capabilities.

However, rising trade barriers and a strained multilateral trading system have limited broader progress, pushing countries to pursue cooperation through narrower initiatives such as the Future of Investment and Trade Partnership

Innovation and technology cooperation recorded one of the strongest increases, even as governments imposed tighter controls on critical technologies and knowledge flows.

Cross-border IT services, digital talent mobility and international data bandwidth have expanded sharply, with global bandwidth now four times higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the same time, restrictions — especially between the United States and China — have intensified, prompting aligned economies to collaborate more closely on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and 5G infrastructure

Climate and natural capital cooperation also strengthened, driven by rising investment and the expansion of clean technology supply chains. Global deployment of renewable energy and electric vehicles reached record levels in mid-2025.

China accounted for roughly two-thirds of new solar, wind and electric vehicle capacity, but other developing economies also increased their contributions. As multilateral climate negotiations become more complex, regional groupings such as the European Union and ASEAN are combining decarbonisation efforts with energy security priorities

Health and wellness cooperation remained broadly stable, masking growing vulnerabilities beneath the surface. While health outcomes have continued to improve following the pandemic, funding pressures are intensifying. Development assistance for health has contracted sharply, with further tightening in 2025, placing low- and middle-income countries at increased risk

The steepest deterioration was recorded in peace and security cooperation. Every tracked metric in this pillar fell below pre-pandemic levels, as conflicts escalated, military spending rose and multilateral conflict-resolution mechanisms struggled to contain crises. By the end of 2024, the number of forcibly displaced people globally had reached a record 123 million.

Despite this decline, the report notes that mounting pressures may spur new forms of cooperation, including through regional peacekeeping initiatives

According to McKinsey Global managing partner, Bob Sternfels, leaders are increasingly “reimagining collaboration across borders” as global divisions deepen.

“Cooperation may look different today, and involve different partners, but importantly, it continues to deliver on some critical shared priorities. Collaborative progress can, and does, continue to happen even amid global divisions,” Sternfels said.

The Barometer concludes that global cooperation is not retreating, but being rewritten.

The WEF said that to make progress, leaders will need to build new cooperative structures, from trade agreements to standards alliances, and strengthen public-private partnerships.

At the core of these efforts, the report stresses, lies the need to rebuild open and constructive dialogue as the foundation for advancing shared interests in an increasingly fragmented world

BUSINESS REPORT