UNGA president takes potshot at Trump's Board of Peace

We are witnessing growing geopolitical tensions, increasing fragmentation, and pressure on the three pillars of the United Nations -- peace and security, development, and human rights, the UN General Assembly UNGA president said.

President of the United Nations General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, on Tuesday called for renewed commitment to the UN charter amid rising geopolitical tensions and growing pressure on the international system. At a press conference after holding wide-ranging talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, she also took a potshot at US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace, wondering how a framework based on joining fee for nations will operate. Trump unveiled the Board of Peace (BoP) in January to oversee peace efforts, initially focusing on Gaza. The permanent members were asked to pay a fee of USD 1 billion. There was criticism that the BoP is designed to sideline or replace the United Nations. Baerbock, responding to a question on BoP, said there is a reason the UN is responsible for ensuring peace and security in the world. ''Because every country, no matter how big or small, how powerful or rich has a seat at the table, because you will not find just peace for anybody in the world if you have to pay the fee to join it,'' she said. ''We are witnessing growing geopolitical tensions, increasing fragmentation, and pressure on the three pillars of the United Nations -- peace and security, development, and human rights,'' the UN General Assembly (UNGA) president said. No country, regardless of its size or strength, can address today's complex global challenges -- such as climate change, global pandemics, and the economic impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine or the closing of the Strait of Hormuz -- on its own, she said. Baerbock cautioned that multilateralism and international laws are facing serious challenges. ''Today, the United Nations, multilateralism, and international law are not only under pressure, but under direct attack,'' she said, pointing to increasing fragmentation and strain across the pillars of peace and security, development, and human rights. During her meeting with Jaishankar, Baerbock focused on strengthening cooperation on shared global priorities and highlighted India's role as an essential partner in advancing multilateral solutions. The two sides discussed the West Asia conflict, much-awaited reform of the 80-year-old UN and implications of artificial intelligence among other issues. ''Underscored the need for reformed multilateralism reflective of today's realities, particularly of the Global South,'' Jaishankar said on social media. The UNGA president also underscored the need for a more efficient and responsive United Nations, noting ongoing ''UN80 reform'' efforts to strengthen delivery at the country level and improve impact on people's lives. Baerbock, a former German foreign minister, also hailed India's contribution to the UN. ''As one of the founding members of the United Nations, India has played a critical role throughout the organization's 80-year history and across all three of its pillars,'' she said. ''Since 1948, India has contributed more than 300,000 troops to more than 53 missions. More than 184 Indian peacekeepers have made the ultimate sacrifice in service of global peace,'' she added. Baerbock also underlined the need for reform of the UN. ''While the UN is indispensable, it has to reform itself to be more efficient, more agile and avoid duplication to better deliver on the ground and meet the challenges of the 21st century and beyond,'' she said. In response to a question, the UNGA president hoped that the next UN secretary general is a woman. The tenure of current Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, will come to an end on December 31, 2026. Baerbock also condemned the killing of UN peacekeepers in Lebanon. The UNGA president is visiting India as part of her broader visit to Asia. She also met with senior government officials, representatives of India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and the UN Country Team in India, as well as representatives of the UN Country Team in Bhutan. She is visiting China from April 29 to 30.