The 78th United Nations General Assembly commenced its high-level debate just a few weeks ago against the backdrop of an alarming international environment that demanded the global community's attention. During the session, Dennis Francis, serving as the President, opened the session by warning that the possibility of an intentional nuclear outbreak was now higher than ever before. This alarming situation was, in part, associated with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the heightened tensions between several nuclear-armed states.
Just weeks prior to the Assembly, Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, delivered an equally alarmingly but legitimate declaration. He stated that the world was entering an era of "global boiling" due to the inadequate progress in addressing the negative ramifications of climate change.
Prolonged Tensions
In the midst of this dire scenario, I observe with deep concern the proliferation and persistence of conflicts worldwide. The Palestinian plight for self-determination remains challenged as Arab territories remain occupied since 1967. Libya has been in extenuating circumstances for almost a decade, with the United Nations Special Envoy, Abdoulaye Bathily, warning that it stands on the brink of disintegration, jeopardizing its unity, statehood, and identity. Libya has recently suffered gravely from a severe natural disaster in Derna. Similarly, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen crises remain unresolved, tearing nations apart and leaving millions displaced. Furthermore, numerous other political and socioeconomic issues, including water, food, and health security, are generating serious concern throughout the region.
Africa is not exempt from this turbulent state of affairs, with power struggles destabilizing countries. Since 2020, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, and Gabon witnessed destabilization resulting in detrimental security consequences. Post-colonial Africa continues to grapple with the ramifications of its past, including persistent foreign interference in pursuit of geopolitical competition and the exploitation of natural resources. Regrettably, poor national governance is also widely prevalent, exacerbating these challenges.
Tensions are also escalating in Asia, often involving China, mirroring the global scenario of friction between neighboring states and larger global rivalries.
Challenging the Global Order
The fundamental pillars of the current global order face unprecedented challenges. This challenge is twofold in nature: firstly, it represents a legitimate pursuit for corrective reforms aimed at promoting more equitability among nation-states and upholding the ideals of multilateralism. Secondly, it stems from the tensions between major powers, exacerbated by acerbic rhetoric and lack of meaningful dialogue between them because the inequitable post-World War Two order that served their interests for over half a century was no longer relevant or applicable.
A closely related debate is associated with the expansion of BRICS. Originally composed of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, this bloc emerged during a period of robust economic growth and held a strong socioeconomic focus. It was further designed to partially balance the playing field in the face of capitalist market forces. Yet, the recent announcement of extending membership invitations to the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Ethiopia, and Iran generated a helter-skelter of pundit questions and opinions: Will BRICS become the kernel of a new world order to redress Western political and economic hegemony? Could it potentially provide an alternative currency to the United States dollar?
While I strongly support BRICS and its expansion, some of the hyperbolic projections overlook its economic limitations in comparison to those of consolidated Western industrial countries and those beyond this grouping. Furthermore, these conclusions tend to trend lightly on or completely disregard the political differences between member states. Notably, a number of leaders from the original members of BRICS publicly refuted the initiative to enlarge the bloc or undermine its existing structure. Additionally, while increased barter exchanges or bilateral trade agreements may develop between its members, the immediate adoption of a new currency to replace the dollar is neither on the agenda currently nor under consideration in the immediate future.
The Multilateral Agenda
The Multilateral Agenda at the General Assembly was the focal point of this high-level gathering. Currently, the international community is in a sharply percolating phase, responding inappropriately to the present-day aspirations of many. Equally concerning and destabilizing is the operational inefficiency of the present order, which struggles to rise to the challenges of our times. Both of these traits were evident during the high-level phase of the 78th UNGA and needed to be expeditiously redressed. Traditionally, the presence of governmental leaders at the annual fall meetings has often provided an auspicious opportunity for leaders to consult on complex and challenging global issues.
Reflective of global concerns, this year's UNGA theme is "Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability for all." The theme encompasses high-level dialogues on "Financing for Development," "Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response," and "Universal Health Coverage." There was also a preparatory meeting of the Summit for the Future, the Climate Ambition Summit, and a meeting on the Fight against Tuberculosis, as well as one to commemorate and promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.
These crucial themes and priority meetings should not be overlooked. The Assembly's agenda and that of its committees include many other issues as well. In fact, there are probably too many for a two-week congregation or even for the entire annual session. It is, however, highly indicative of our situation that the priority and theme items of the high-level segment are either highly general and macroscopic or overwhelmingly socioeconomic. Noticeably absent from the agenda are the concerns related to political security, with the sole exception of commemorating a day to promote the elimination of nuclear weapons.
Yet, one must question how the world cannot prioritize the actual de-escalation of state tensions, the cessation of ongoing warfare, and termination of persistent territorial occupation, the rectification of the right to self-determination, the reduction of increased global militarization and the mitigation of geopolitical trends that threaten destabilization. Equally pressing is the urgency to de-escalate nuclear posturing and advance nuclear disarmament. Frankly, I am astonished and profoundly concerned by the current state of affairs.
"The Sound of Silence"
Reflecting on the first day of the UNGA, the United States President, Joseph Biden, delivered a forceful condemnation of Russia's military operation in Ukraine, reiterating that inaction towards Moscow threatened the fundamental principles of the UN Charter. This speech was met with a concerning silence rather than the expected cacophony of divergent world leaders, a practice that dates back to the Cold War.
Nikita Khrushchev, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, once vented his displeasure by banging his shoe on the table during an Assembly meeting. America's Arch enemy and the former President of Cuba, Fidel Castro, visited the United Nations four times and gave the longest recorded speech at the General Assembly, lasting over four hours, all while the US occupied Guantanamo. Another instance was when the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat went to the rostrum with an empty holster while carrying an olive branch that he cautioned should not be allowed to fall. Venezuelan former President Hugo Chavez actually went as far as characterizing the United States President as "the devil" in his 2006 UNGA speech. Indeed, there have also been numerous passionate and vicious exchanges between leaders spanning across the different sides of the political spectrum.
The key point here is that all voices, regardless of their relations with the US, had the opportunity to come to the Assembly and speak. I can attest, based on personal experience, that the Assembly congregation has always served as an auspicious opportunity for important sidebars and private consultations between friends and foes.
This particular avenue for dialogue between adversaries was alarmingly absent from the 78th UNGA. While many world leaders made appearances, It was, however, noticeable and served as a testimony to the absence of dialogue, or as more artistically coined, "the sound of silence," that the United States President was the sole head of state amongst the five Permanent Members of the Security Council to attend.
This is a stark and ominous reflection of the current international paradigm and indicates the ineffective role of the United Nations. Four out of these five members have reverted to Cold War rhetoric and have even inferred the possible use of weapons of mass destruction. The Security Council, entrusted with the responsibility of preserving international peace and security, has witnessed the absence of most of the leaders from the permanent five, signaling their diminishing reliance on the United Nations as the core of their international engagement. Admittedly, China and the United States have recently engaged in constructive bilateral talks with senior officials in Malta, albeit one that mainly reconfirmed their preferences and priorities.
The resolution of political conflicts necessitates the cooperation of nation-states, and the United Nations cannot resolve them through its modalities alone. But the time for sustained high-level diplomacy is now!
I have previously openly criticized Secretary-General Guterres for not taking a more proactive stance and not engaging sufficiently in conflict resolution efforts. My dissatisfaction persists. Nevertheless, in his opening speech before the Assembly, he did, however, strongly warn that a "Great Facture" was looming for the world, emphasizing the dire need for reform in light of fundamentally different contemporary global realities. This is a good clarion call for multilateralism, which I hope the UNSG will complement with concrete proposals to encourage or compel states into more rigorous diplomatic engagement. It is imperative that the United Nations system, with its principles and guidelines, be invigorated and recalibrated to once again be the guiding light of diplomacy, both within or beyond the august body.
I call upon the Secretary-General to take three steps:
1. Personally engage all the leaders of the Permanent Members of the Security Council regarding the tensions and longstanding political conflicts between them.
2. Establish a limited geographically representative group of global statesmen at the highest level possible to creatively engage disputing parties in diplomatically resolving conflicts.
3. Personally Engage all the members of the Security Council and the heads of the Regional Groupings on how best to activate and energize the UN reform process.
Only through these deliberate and focused actions can we hope to navigate through the perilous currents of the present international landscape and steer toward a more stable and secure global future.
