US President Donald Trump lambasted the United Nations on opening day for its failure to stop global crises in the midst of major regional wars, humanitarian disasters, looming security threats, never mind costly bureaucratic waste. But as the leader of the most prominent and founding UN member state, he then added that the world organisation isn’t living up to its potential, and scathingly challenged, “What’s the purpose of the United Nations?” The old rebuke, “You can do better!” Sometimes it works.
The 80th General Assembly, which was supposed to originally be a celebration of the UN’s founding in San Francisco in 1945, turned out to be a gloomy and plaintive session as most of us sadly expected. Founded from the ruins of the Second World War, the new multinational organisation would offer the brave new world a future of peace and security. Then postwar reality intervened.
Key crises confront the UN and the global community.
Ukraine’s conflict, the largest war in Europe since World War II, devastates a central European country and, as importantly, imperils neighbouring states. Thus, beyond millions of refugees and massive human carnage, the war is spilling over into neighbouring Nato countries.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a powerful address to the Assembly, stated bluntly; Ukraine has no security guarantees, except friends and weapons”. What can the UN really do, he asked. He rhetorically cited, “What can Sudan or Somalia or Palestine or any other people living through war really expect from the UN or the global system?” He added, “For decades, just statements and statements.”
“Weapons decide who survives,” he stated bluntly. Mr Zelensky’s address was assertive, confident and combative. He earned the right.
Peace negotiations are a process; often slow, stop/start, jolt and then movement. Ukraine’s long-awaited ceasefire is yet to happen. Russia’s war slogs on.
Secretary General Antonio Guterres commended the efforts by the United States and others seeking to facilitate diplomatic solutions to the conflict. Nevertheless, progress on achieving a ceasefire and a lasting peace settlement remains “painfully slow”. He added, “We cannot afford to lose the current diplomatic momentum, fragile as it may be.”
The perennial Palestine debate continued to be energised by the ongoing fighting and Gaza’s humanitarian tragedy. As promised, key Western powers recognised the State of Palestine; France, Britain, Canada and Portugal, among others, made the diplomatic gesture. Palestine’s President Mahmoud Abbas spoke by video-link to the Assembly, thanking the Europeans and at the same time condemning the horrific Hamas terror attacks on Israel on 7 Oct 2023. Hamas “will have no role in governing”, he promised.
When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke defiantly before the General Assembly, he was publicly insulted by a crass walkout of Arab and Muslim diplomats who left the hall to the cheers of many remaining delegations. Mr Netanyahu responded, reminding delegates of Israel’s stand and why he opposes the Two-State solution. He intoned, “The Palestinians, they don’t believe in this solution. They never have. They don’t want a state next to Israel. They want a Palestinian state instead of Israel.”
United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan underscored the necessity for a Gaza ceasefire and rejected any potential Israeli annexation of Palestinian territories during a meeting with Mr Netanyahu in New York.
Then came the diplomatic breakthrough in Washington. The Trump administration, working in overdrive with both Israel and Arab states, outlined a 21-point deal to stop the fighting, gain the release of the Israeli hostages, and demilitarise and rebuild Gaza under international auspices. Though Hamas has yet to accept, it’s under strong pressure from the Arab states and the threat of renewed Israeli military operations. European countries hailed Donald Trump’s plan to end the Gaza war.
What may be a major win for Mideast peace reflects closed-door diplomacy and some sideline discussions at the UN Assembly. Earlier, during a meeting with the Secretary General, Mr Trump stressed, ” I think the potential of the United Nations is incredible, really incredible. So, I’m behind it. I may disagree with it sometimes, but I am so behind it because I think the potential for peace with this institution is so great.” Within a week, these sentiments were proven right.