Johnathan Paoli
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told BRICS nations that the block’s intention of achieving multi-polarity in the world will not be enough to achieve peace and sustainable development.
Earlier Guterres was invited to address the 15th BRICS Summit at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg on Thursday.
Calling attention to the example of pre-WWI Europe, Guterres said that in the absence of strong multilateral mechanisms, multi-polarity without concrete institutional reform could result in increased conflict, instability and inequality.
“To be a factor of peace, equity, and justice in international relations, multi-polarity must be supported by strong and effective multilateral institutions,” Guterres said.
In addition, the UN SG said that in its shift to multi-polarity, the global community desperately requires a strengthened and reformed multilateral architecture based on the UN Charter and international law.
Guterres said the global governance structures are in dire need of reform, as they reflect an outdated political reality stuck in the post-WWII and colonial past, particularly in terms of the UN Security Council and Bretton Woods institutions.
As it stands, the UN Security Council has only offered African countries a non-permanent three-year rotational seat at the Council.
Furthermore, Guterres cautioned that the failure of reform would culminate in the inevitable fragmentation of countries and structures.
“We cannot afford a world with a divided global economy and financial system; with diverging strategies on technology including artificial intelligence; and with conflicting security frameworks,” Guterres said.
The SG referenced a recent estimation by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that such a possible calamity might cost the global community an astounding 7% in GDP output, a cost that would be disproportionately borne by low-income countries, mainly in Africa.
Guterres said that cooperation is fundamental to restoring and revitalising multilateralism to the 21st century, and that the process would require compromise, solidarity and full respect of international law, the UN Charter and human rights.
The SG concluded with a call for placing Africa in the centre of all of this, and maintaining its position as well as the rest of the Global South as the highest priority for sustainable development.
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