Today’s new world requires new United Nations, international order: Rajnath Singh
He was addressing the International Conference of World Chief Justices organized by the private City Montessori School in his parliamentary constituency in Lucknow.
He said that conflicts continue in many parts of the world today; Israel-Hamas conflict, Ukraine-Russia war, Sudan and humanitarian crises in many parts of Africa.
“Amidst all this, we would have expected the United Nations to play a much stronger role. We don’t see it, but we could see it,” he said.
Singh added that this gap in action does not reflect any lack of intent on the part of the United Nations; Rather, it results from the complexity of global politics, the influence of great powers, and the slow pace of institutional processes.
“These factors have often raised questions about the authority of the UN,” the defense minister said. “This situation can only change when we restore the United Nations to its core goals as originally envisioned – peace, justice and equal representation,” he said. “I firmly believe that today’s new world requires a new United Nations.” However, he also explained that when he said “new United Nations”, he did not mean establishing a new institution, but revitalizing the existing institution.
Singh stated that he believes that any institution, organization or even an idea is a product of its time, noting that the post-World War II period was very transformative because many modern nations were born that were previously under colonial rule.
“In these circumstances, establishing a new international order became the need of the time,” he said, acknowledging that the United Nations successfully achieved its immediate objectives. However, Singh reiterated that reforms become inevitable when conditions change.
Stating that there have been significant changes in the world in the last 25 years, the defense minister said that the coexistence of prosperity and instability on this scale is an unprecedented situation and makes it clear that “the international order must be reconsidered.”
He said India’s position on reforms is very clear and has been presented at various global forums.
“The India of 75-80 years ago is not the India of today. As India becomes more dynamic, international institutions must also become dynamic. Without dynamism, neither a nation nor an organization can survive. Therefore, I believe that these institutions need to be reoriented.”
