United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) President Annalena Baerbock, who was on a two-day visit to India, Tuesday discussed the ongoing Iran war and the opening of Strait of Hormuz with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar even as she highlighted the hurdles being faced by the UN to safeguard the Charter and the international rules based order.
Baerbock, who will be traveling to China Wednesday, said, during her meeting with Jaishankar, she discussed issues concerning the ongoing Iran war, especially the issue of opening of the Strait of Hormuz, UNCLOS and that the “Law of seas is being violated unilaterally.”
Both Baerbock and Jaishankar also discussed issues concerning the strengthening of multilateral cooperation on key global issues. “Today, the United Nations, multilateralism, and international law are not only under pressure, but under direct attack. We are witnessing growing geopolitical tensions, increasing fragmentation, and pressure on the three pillars of the United Nations – peace and security, development, and human rights.”
She said, “This is happening despite the fact that no country, regardless of its size or strength, can address today’s complex global challenges alone. From climate change and global health pandemics like COVID, to the global economic impact of wars as seen with the Russian invasion of Ukraine or the closing of the Strait of Hormuz, what happens in one part of the world affects everyone, everywhere.”
“Therefore complying with international law and the delivery on the Sustainable Development Goals is not optional, but in the interest of all of us. As President of the General Assembly, my key priority is to defend the Charter. In this regard I also called for cross-regional alliances to support multilateralism and the United Nations,” said Baerbock, who is the former Foreign Minister of Germany.
Baerbock said she is visiting India as the UNGA President because New Delhi’s “continued leadership and partnership are essential in these times when the UN needs steadfast commitment and cooperation.”
“Since 1948 India has contributed more than 300,000 troops to more than 53 missions. More than 184 Indian peacekeepers have made the ultimate sacrifice in service of global peace. India has also been a leader in South-South cooperation, committing $150 million over 10 years to the India-UN Development Partnership Fund to specifically support Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States in their pursuit of the SDGs,” said Baerbock.
‘UN Has To Reform’
According to Baerbock, the UN is “indispensable”, however, she said, the UN has to undergo a “reform” process to be more “more efficient, more agile and avoid duplication to better deliver on the ground and meet challenges of the 21st century and beyond.”
“If we are to have a UN fit for the future, we need not only governments to be engaged but civil society, young people and citizens from all walks of life. In this regard I commend the strong commitment of the Indian people to the UN as demonstrated by the enthusiastic participation in the nationwide competition to design a commemorative stamp to celebrate the United Nations’ 80th anniversary,” she said.
On the issue of expansion of the UNSC – something that India had been demanding for many years – Baerbock said the process takes time and it will be discussed at an opportune time even as the process remains complex and discussions are on hold within the members, who have to take a call on the matter.
