Threat to multilateal world order sees soaring attendance
With rising unilateralism challenging its very existence, the United Nations convenes its annual meeting of world leaders today and will try once more to tackle problems together as a community of nations.
This year, 133 world leaders have signed up to attend the General Assembly session, a significant increase from last year’s 114 and one of the highest in recent times. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the expected large turnout “eloquent proof of the confidence of the international community in the United Nations,” though other UN officials and diplomats said it’s in response to growing concerns about an increasingly turbulent world.
Working together
Guterres said last week that one of his overriding concerns in an increasingly globalised world is the threat to having the UN’s 193 member nations work together, which is the foundation of the United Nations. “Multilateralism is under attack from many different directions precisely when we need it most,” the UN chief said.
“In different areas and for different reasons, the trust of people in their political establishments, the trust of states among each other, the trust of many people in international organisations has been eroded and... multilateralism has been in the fire.”
Guterres challenged diplomats at last week’s opening of the 73rd session of the General Assembly by saying: “At a time of fragmentation and polarisation, the world needs this assembly to show the value of international cooperation.”
But whether it will be able to remains in question.
‘America First’
At this year’s gathering of presidents, prime ministers, monarchs and minsters, populist leaders will include US President Donald Trump, Premier Giuseppe Conte of Italy along with the foreign ministers of Hungary and Austria. US Ambassador Nikki Haley said Trump, who champions an ‘America First’ policy, wants to talk about “protecting US sovereignty”.
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussain, the outgoing UN human rights chief, expressed serious concern last month that populism, intolerance and oppression are “becoming fashionable again.”