External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has pointed out several critical issues hindering the United Nations’ effectiveness. Speaking at an event to commemorate the UN’s 80th anniversary, Jaishankar noted that the organization’s decision-making fails to align with global priorities and that its response to terrorism is inadequate. He also lamented how the reform process itself is being used to block necessary changes.
Despite these criticisms, Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s unwavering commitment to the UN’s core principles, including peace, security, international cooperation, multipolarity, and peacekeeping operations.
“All is not well with the United Nations,” Jaishankar stated, elaborating that the UN’s decision-making processes do not adequately reflect its membership or address pressing global issues. He observed that debates within the UN have become increasingly polarized, leading to a visibly gridlocked working environment.
“Any meaningful reform is obstructed using the reform process itself,” he added, highlighting financial constraints as an emerging concern. “How to sustain the UN even while seeking its re-invention is clearly a major challenge before all of us.”
Jaishankar specifically called out the UN’s approach to terrorism. He questioned the credibility of multilateralism when a Security Council member appears to protect organizations responsible for barbaric terror attacks, referencing an incident in Pahalgam. He also criticized the tendency to equate victims and perpetrators of terrorism in the name of a global strategy and the shielding of self-proclaimed terrorists from sanctioning processes.
The minister observed that the world is grappling with numerous major conflicts, causing significant loss of life and impacting global well-being. He noted that the “Global South” has disproportionately felt this impact, while more developed nations remain insulated from the consequences.
On UN Day, Jaishankar stressed India’s dedication to the UN’s ideals of peace, security, development, and progress, stating, “India has always been and will continue to be a strong votary of the UN, and indeed, of multilateralism.” He highlighted India’s contributions to UN peacekeeping operations as a testament to its commitment.
Cautioning against the maintenance of international peace and security becoming mere “lip service,” Jaishankar pointed to the stalled progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda 2030 as a significant indicator of the distress faced by the Global South.
However, he concluded on a note of hope, emphasizing that the global community “cannot abandon hope” and must maintain a strong commitment to multilateralism. “However flawed, the UN must be supported in this time of crisis. Our faith in international cooperation must be reiterated and indeed renewed,” he urged.
The event also marked the launch of a commemorative postal stamp for the UN’s 80th anniversary. An open competition organized by the Department of Posts received over 740,000 entries from students nationwide, with the winning design symbolizing the need for peace in an era of conflict.