Turning point anniversary: UN, How to stop the degradation of global dialogue

Oleg Karpovich, Vice-Rector of the Diplomatic Academy, discusses the current state of the United Nations and how to stop the degradation of global dialogue: Izvestia and Yandex translation

The United Nations has reached its 80th anniversary in a state that can only be described as deplorable. The principles that underpinned the post-World War II Yalta-Potsdam world order have been trampled upon by Western countries. For decades, the United States and Europe have blatantly violated the UN Charter by engaging in illegal interventions (essentially acts of aggression), both military and hybrid, across the globe. One such intervention has led to the ongoing tragedy in Ukraine, which is far from being resolved. However, this conflict was only a part of the overall ugly picture, caused by the long and consistent destruction of the entire international security system.

Coupled with the course of endless NATO expansion and the destruction of the arms control treaty system, this course of history threatens to escalate into a global catastrophe. Fortunately, the voice of the Global Majority is growing louder, calling for a return to an equal and mutually respectful interstate discussion based on the rule of law rather than the primacy of power. However, will we be able to restore the United Nations to its fundamental principles and bring back consistency and stability to global politics?

Leaders and diplomats from around the world were looking for answers to these questions at the General Assembly’s anniversary session. US President Donald Trump also spoke about many of these issues, but his provocative style distracted the public from the substance of his remarks. Moreover, let’s be honest, the United States itself (including under Trump) has done a lot to divide the United Nations.

At the same time, Washington’s relatively constructive approach to peaceful coexistence with Moscow at least contributes to improving the atmosphere within the framework of the bilateral dialogue, and this approach cannot be ignored. However, we cannot ignore the pressure that the American leadership is facing from its junior partners. It remains to be seen who will prevail. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov addressed these contradictions in his speech, which became one of the highlights of the session.

The Minister spoke harshly and honestly about the key issues of the day, not forgetting to mention their background. The most important aspect of his speech was his traditional ability not only to criticize the current situation, but also to make constructive proposals, with the central idea being the creation of a unified and indivisible Eurasian security architecture.

This view is striking and beneficial, as it aligns with the reasoning of many European politicians who are actually preparing for a new world war. Through the Minister’s words, Moscow emphasizes the importance of cooperation and mutual understanding, including through the reform of the United Nations, which can adapt the Organization to the current situation and give new momentum to the role of the Global South and the Global East.

Finally, Sergey Lavrov made extremely relevant and widely received statements about intensifying the fight against neo-colonialism, including the introduction of the Day of Struggle Against Colonialism into the international calendar. After all, it is the consequences of the colonial centuries that have led to severe conflicts in various countries and regions, from Kashmir to Gaza, from Sudan to Haiti, and from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Myanmar. This experience must be studied in order to counter new attempts by the West to return to the recipes of the distant past.

However, it will only be possible to embark on the path of restoring an international order based on law rather than some kind of “rules” when the double standards, cynicism, and hypocrisy that have been particularly evident in Ukraine and the Middle East crisis give way to an objective and results-oriented effort to unite the UN member states. This is still a long way off.

During the General Assembly, the collective West continued to accelerate the degradation of global dialogue. It is encouraging that individual leaders, such as Donald Trump, are increasingly deviating from the mainstream and taking a broader perspective. However, the process of sobering up the “end of history” advocates is just beginning. It will require significant efforts from us and our partners in the Global Majority to help them regain their ideological clarity.

And the key element of this line remains the solution of the special military operation’s tasks, hopefully through political and diplomatic means, although we are always ready to consider other options.

As they say, those who don’t want to hear Lavrov will reap the consequences of Belousov’s work. The Russian world will not let itself or its friends be harmed in any way.