An unprecedented discussion took place at the UN Security Council on May 26. As rotating chair of the Council for the month of May, China took the opportunity to raise the level of discussion to that of the overall crisis facing civilization. “The international situation is undergoing the most complex and profound changes since the end of World War II,” began Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who chaired the meeting. “The giant ship of human civilization is sailing into dangerous waters, and world peace and development is at a crossroads.” Reminding the Council that the UN had itself been born “from the ashes of World War II,” Wang declared that “The challenges before us are testing the international community’s commitment to safeguarding peace, its resolve to stand up for justice, and its courage to take bold reforms.”
A quick glance around makes it hard to disagree with the Foreign Minister’s assessment. The illegal and aggressive war against Iran—launched by the U.S. and Israel in violation of all international law—threatens to reignite at any moment. Despite claims of a tenuous negotiations process, the United States launched strikes at Iranian targets overnight on May 25-26, threatening the fragile ceasefire. Israel, meanwhile, launched the largest barrage of air strikes against targets in Lebanon since the April 16[[???]] ceasefire began, and Prime Minister Netanyahu is has announced…[some escalation]]].
The ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz is forcing nations around the world to burn through their strategic reserves of oil and gas at record rates, delaying an explosion of prices and market shortages that will soon spell disaster for the world’s economy. Fertilizer shortages are already being felt around the world, with the poorest nations being hardest hit. Even if the crisis stops tomorrow, tens of millions will be already be pushed into famine due to the shortages.
Then there is the escalating situation around Ukraine. After Ukraine struck a Russian school dormitory in Starobelsk last week, killing 21 and injuring 41, Russia announced it will launch a series of “systematic strikes” and warned all nations with diplomatic missions in Kiev to “leave the city as soon as possible.” European nations, however, are not reacting rationally. The EU’s Ambassador to Ukraine declared Russia’s statement to be a “masterpiece of hypocrisy,” and insisted that “Western diplomats will not leave Kiev.” The United States, which may be the only remaining actor that could intervene to avert a major escalation, has so far remained mostly neutral. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters May 26: “every time you see these big strikes from one side or the other, it’s a reminder of why this is a terrible war… and it needs to come to an end.” This situation remains on the absolute brink of disaster.
In this context, the UN Security Council hearing, “Upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and strengthening the UN-centered international system,” heard an impressive array of contributions from the world community. While aspects of the UN framework are in need of reform, the overwhelming majority of representatives insisted that the larger issue was the failure to uphold the original principles upon which the UN was founded, and the dangers ensuing from the careless disregard for international law. Pakistan’s representative said, “the UN Charter remains our common language for peace”; Czechia’s representative said that without the UN, smaller countries would not have a place at the table, but would instead find themselves on the menu; and Thailand’s representative said that World War II showed us that unlimited competition between great powers leads to insecurity for all.
It is amidst this moment of historic crisis, and the growing recognition that we are living in “the most complex and profound changes since the end of World War II,” that Helga Zepp-LaRouche’s proposal for a new security and development architecture can take hold. This is equally the case for the urgent proposal by former Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, and amended by Zepp-LaRouche, for a policy of peace and development for Southwest Asia.
In fact, a team of LaRouche movement activists was distributing this proposal outside of the United Nations during the hearing, and had contact with representatives from over a dozen nations. Join the effort to put this new perspective on the table while there is still an opportunity.
