New Delhi: Speaking at the Kautilya Economic Conclave, external affairs minister S Jaishankar expressed a critical view of the United Nations, likening it to “an old company” that struggles to keep pace with contemporary global challenges. He said, “What you have today is, yes, there is a UN. At the end of the day, however suboptimal it is in functioning, it is still the only multilateral game in town.”
Jaishankar highlighted the UN’s limited effectiveness in addressing major global issues, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic. “Think about what the UN did on Covid. I think the answer is not very much,” he remarked, adding that countries largely operated independently or formed coalitions, such as the Covax initiative, to tackle the crisis.
#WATCH | Delhi: At Kautilya Economic Conclave, EAM Dr S Jaishankar says “The United Nations is like an old company, not entirely keeping up with the market, but occupying the space…What you have today is, yes, there is a UN. At the end of the day, however suboptimal it is in… pic.twitter.com/AFFTf9ScHo
— ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2024
‘UN’s passive role in ongoing global conflicts’
He further emphasised the UN’s passive role in ongoing global conflicts, asserting that it has often remained a “bystander.” As nations confront pressing issues, Jaishankar noted a trend toward countries forming their own alliances to address these challenges. “Increasingly, you find combinations of countries who come together and say, let’s agree on this and let’s go and do it,” he said.
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While acknowledging the UN’s continued existence, he stressed the emergence of a “non-UN space” where countries are taking proactive measures to coordinate and respond to global challenges. This reflects a growing sentiment among nations that they must seek alternatives when multilateral organizations fail to act decisively.
The Union minister’s remarks resonate with a broader discourse on the relevance and effectiveness of international institutions in an increasingly multipolar world. Jaishankar is poised to visit Pakistan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting, scheduled for October 15 and 16.
