Jaishankar on UN: Just taking up space…United Nations will be stunned by the comparison of Foreign Minister Jaishankar

New Delhi: If a person or an organization does not live up to the expectations of the times, he/she faces humiliation. And this is the condition of the United Nations. The world’s largest Panchayat has today reached such a state that the roots of the questions raised on its usefulness are continuously deepening. Today, when the world is facing war and war-like situations in a multi-polar situation, then the United Nations standing idle as a mute spectator is a sufficient indication of the ineffectiveness of this organization. This is the reason why Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar described the United Nations as an old company which is not able to keep pace with the market, but is occupying space.

Comparison of United Nations with the old company

Jaishankar on Sunday criticized the UN, saying that it is like an old company which is not able to keep pace with the market but is occupying space. During a conversation at the Kautilya Economic Conference, he/she also said that there are two very serious conflicts going on in the world. And what is the role of the United Nations in these? The Foreign Minister said, ‘Definitely an audience.’ Responding to a question on the possible outcome of the US elections, he/she said that America has made a real change in geopolitical and economic outlook. he/she said that regardless of the results in November, many of these trends will accelerate in the coming days.

Jaishankar spoke in Kautilya Economic Conclave

Jaishankar participated in an interactive session on ‘India and the World’ and talked about India’s role and challenges amid the changing global scenario. Jaishankar discussed some of the steps taken to help its neighboring countries like Sri Lanka as well as other countries. Asked about his/her upcoming visit to Pakistan to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, he/she again denied any bilateral talks with his/her Pakistani counterpart.

Clear cut regarding Pakistan tour

Jaishankar said, ‘I am going there for a special work, a special responsibility. Because I take my responsibilities seriously, I am going there to represent India at the SCO meeting, and that’s just what I am going to do. The External Affairs Minister had also said on Saturday that he/she was going to Islamabad to participate in a multilateral program and not to discuss India-Pakistan relations.

Strong criticism of the United Nations

Responding to a question on the role of the United Nations amid the changing global scenario, he/she presented a very critical view of the world body. he/she said, ‘The United Nations is in a way like an old company, which is completely out of sync with the market. Not able to walk, but occupying space. And, when it’s behind the times, in this world you have start-ups and innovation, so different people start doing their own things.’ he/she further said, ‘So today you have the United Nations, however second-rate in functioning, it is still the only global panchayat.’

The External Affairs Minister said, ‘But, when it cannot move forward on key issues, countries find their own ways of doing it. For example, take the last five-ten years, probably the biggest thing that happened in our lives was Covid. What did the United Nations do on Covid? I think the answer is – not very much. Jaishankar said, ‘Today there are two conflicts going on in the world, two very serious conflicts, where is the United Nations in them, just in the posture of a spectator.’

Due to UN inaction, countries started taking decisions themselves

What is happening is that everyone took their own steps, such as initiatives like Covax which was taken by a group of many countries. he/she said, ‘Now the group of countries agreeing to do something on big issues is increasing.’ Citing connectivity initiatives like India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), Quad in the Indo-Pacific to look after the global commons, International Solar Alliance (ISA) and Coalition for Disaster Responsive Infrastructure (CDRI), he/she said that all these The bodies came outside the framework of the United Nations. Jaishankar said, ‘The United Nations will remain, but a space outside the United Nations has also been created rapidly which is active and I think this is a big question mark on the United Nations.’

There is a need for reform in the United Nations but it is not happening

Jaishankar had said earlier this year that the short-sighted approach of the five permanent members of the UNSC was preventing progress in long-pending reform of the global body. The five permanent members are Russia, UK, China, France and the US and these countries can veto any substantive resolution. Jaishankar was also asked about the possible outcome of the US elections and how India will engage with the new government. In response, he/she said, ‘If we look at the last five years, we will find that many of the policies of the Trump administration were actually not only carried forward by the Biden administration, but they also expanded those policies.’ he/she said that America has understood that the system which it had created many years ago no longer works to its advantage to that extent.

According to the United Nations website, more than 75 years after its founding, the United Nations is still working to maintain international peace and security, provide humanitarian assistance to those in need, protect human rights and maintain international order. India has been demanding reforms in the United Nations and its Security Council (UNSC) to keep pace with the changing times.