According to the UN Secretary-General, the world is entering a new age characterized by the most intense major-power rivalries in decades.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres claimed that, the post-Cold War era has come to a close, and that a new multifaceted age had begun, one that has already been characterized by the greatest degree of global instability and significant power struggles for decades.
The world’s top diplomat called on nations to sort out their differences in a more diplomatic way, in order to mitigate the growing tensions, that poses an enormous threat to the fundamental tenets of the United Nations.
Among the listed problems, the UN Secretary-General mentioned included, the continuous threat of nuclear war, terrorism, the growing mistrust in government establishments, attack on women’s right, rising inequality within and among nations, a more complex and catastrophic conflicts, and the global surge of human right abuses.
Explaining issues, Guterres criticized how some countries have chosen not to abide by the charters of the United Nations, emphasizing on the need for every country to have the right to peace, no matter the size of the nation. He claimed that, Moscow’s infringement on the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, further put a dent on the dignity to which the United Nations operates.
Guterres further emphasized on the vital need of maintaining international diplomacy. He said, “in our fractured, troubled world, it is incumbent upon states to preserve our universal institution, in which they have a stake. The time to act is not when the divisions and fractures have engulfed us. The time to act is now.”
In an effort by the UN to find a lasting remedy to the emerging threats among member nations, a strategic document termed as the “New Agenda for Peace” has been delivered to representatives of the United Nations’ 193 member states, by the Secretary-General. The newly proposed agenda also revealed the negative depiction of the globe.
Prior to the 2024 Summit for the Future, the “New Agenda for Peace” has been one of the policy documents that the UN encouraged member states to deliberation on, to reach an agreement.
Moreover, the newly propose agenda for peace also cited the need to enhance international security. The Secretary-General’s documents drew attention to the UN Security Council’s vote, that ceased peacekeeping operations in Mali, as requested by the military administration.
Thee policy document stated that, though peacekeepers have saved millions of lives, he cautioned diplomats that, “longstanding unresolved conflicts, driven by complex domestic, geopolitical, transnational factors, and a persistent mismatch between mandates and resources, have exposed its limitations, therefore, peacekeeping operations cannot succeed when there is no peace to keep.”
The UN Head of International Crisis Group, Richard Gowan expounded that, the underlining principle of the International Crisis Group for decades, has been “of an activist, interventionist UN.” Gowan explained that, the Secretary-General’s “New Agenda for Peace” made it clear that, diplomacy must serve as the engine for a new global corporation.
Gowan remarked in his critique of the proposed agenda that, the document placed a strong emphasis on the tasks that member countries need undertake. He explained that, the Secretary-General noted that, the U.N. needs to adapt to supporting international cooperations rather than attempting to lead it.
Following the end of the cold war and the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the then UN Secretary-General, Boutros Boutros-Ghali outlined a new global agenda in 1992, that placed much attention to promoting peace in the world.
The agenda highlighted how the United Nations could increase its efforts in strengthening diplomacy, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding. It also applauded the elimination of “hostility and distrust” among the world’s competing superpowers.
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