Heard at 80th UN General Assembly High-Level Week 2025: A struggle between multilateralism and multipolarity?

 

Multilateralism, multipolarity and the United Nations

 

António Guterres, Secretary-General of the UNITED NATIONS:

“Our world is becoming increasingly multipolar. This is positive – reflecting a more diverse, dynamic global landscape. But multipolarity without effective multilateral institutions can court chaos – as Europe learned the hard way resulting in World War I. It was multipolar but there were no multilateral institutions. Let’s be clear: International cooperation is not naïveté. It is hard-headed pragmatism. In a world where threats leap borders, isolation is an illusion.”

 

Luiz Ignácio Lula da Silva, President of BRAZIL: 

“In the future that Brazil envisions, there is no room for the re-establishment of ideological rivalries or spheres of influence. Confrontation is not inevitable. We need leaders with clarity of vision, who understand that the international order is not a “zero-sum game.” The 21st century will be increasingly multipolar. To remain peaceful, it cannot fail to be multilateral.”

 

Alexander Stubb, President of FINLAND:

“Power – hard and soft – is a luxury of bigger players. The power of a smaller country arises from its capacity to cooperate with others…. [T]here is a growing tension between those who promote multilateralism, an order based on the rule of law, and those that speak the language of multipolarity, or transactionalism… In essence, their aim is to diversify their relations with multiple actors rather than aligning with any one bloc…. This kind of foreign policy is based on a realistic understanding of power. Power defines the limits of what is possible for each state. However, values should underpin everything we do. Even a transactional or multivectoral foreign policy should rest on a core of fundamental values.”

Nataša Pirc Musar, President of the Republic of SLOVENIA:

“For most of us, members of the UN, it is not might that makes right – it is the opposite. We must not allow the powerful few to ignore us. We must not surrender to a world where power alone prevails…. We must say YES to inclusive multilateralism, and a resounding NO to multipolarism. Let us show that this General Assembly can and will make a difference, as it has often done before. Let us demonstrate that we reject arrogance, hatred and wilful blindness to a lack of equality and justice, to wars of aggression, crimes against humanity, and genocide – because they tear us apart, for generations.”

 

Johann Wadephul, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of GERMANY:

“We all would only stand to lose in a world where might makes right, where international rules are obsolete, a world where treaties are only binding for the weak – and where war is the continuation of diplomacy by other means. Such a world would ultimately be governed by force.”

 

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of SOMALIA:

“Where we once strived to ask ‘What is Right’ under international law, today we are witnessing the unapologetic rise of national MIGHT to settle disputes. This is a truly dark and dangerous path that threatens the hard-won rules based international order we collectively agreed on as UN Member States.”

 

Sergey Lavrov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of RUSSIAN FEDERATION:

“One of the enduring outcomes of that war was the creation of the United Nations. The principles of its charter, agreed upon by the founding fathers of our organization, continue to serve as a shining beacon of international cooperation. They embody centuries of experience of the coexistence of States and remain fully relevant in the age of multipolarity…. The root of the problem lies in the incessant attempts to divide the world into ‘us’ and ‘them’, into democracy and autocracy, into a blooming garden and a jungle, those who are at the table and those who are on the menu, into the chosen ones who are allowed everything and the rest who for some reason are obliged to serve the interests of the golden billion. We advocate for unquestioning adherence to the principle of equality. It is the guarantee that all countries will be able to take their rightful place in the world order, regardless of their military might, the size of their population, or the size of their territory and economy.”

 

Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of BARBADOS:

“Many of our people ask everyday, why has the UN not done better. The simple truth is, that countries have lacked the political will to live by the Charter and do what is right for humanity. Countries of different sizes, capacities and cultures can only survive in the world in which we live if we maintain a rules-based system. It is no different to what we have to maintain to protect the vulnerable and the weak. This is what protects us from bullying and rogue behavior. Our Charter was designed to promote compassion, equality, and fairness, and this is why it is imperative that we maintain the rules-based system. [As] a small country, our future is placed at risk unless we preserve this rules-based system. The law of the jungle does not guarantee any of us a future or a livable planet. If this institution matters, we must simply step up to the plate… If we are to be protected by a rules-based system, then we must step up to the plate and provide the funds to bridge the gap to deliver the results that we desire.”

 

Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of JAMAICA:

“[A]s we confront global challenges including pandemics, climate change, armed conflict, and persistent poverty, we must acknowledge that our multilateral system requires urgent reform and revitalisation to meet the needs of the 21st century…. Jamaica believes in a future where multilateralism works for all, where no country is too small to be heard, where the concerns of Small Islands facing rising seas are addressed, where the benefits of globalisation are equitably shared, and where international cooperation is based on respect for the sovereignty of each nation.”

 

Badr Ahmed Mohamed Abdelatty, Minister for Foreign Affairs of EGYPT:
“The international landscape is critical and precarious at the moment… We are at a critical juncture. Either the Middle East would go back to a reason to go back to international law, or we rush towards a state of chaos that might, some might think would be able to control by the arrogance of force; however, experience and history has shown that using force would inevitably lead to a disaster…. We remain committed to enhancing multilateral action, as we recognize that absence of international governance will affect us all, will have a negative impact on us all. There is no alternative to committing to international law and to enhance the implementation of international law.”

 

Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs of SINGAPORE:

“Notwithstanding this prevailing pessimism, Singapore believes that the multilateral system and international law underpinned by the UN, still remains the best way to uphold global peace and prosperity in a fair and inclusive way. As a small state, we cannot afford to be passive, or fatalistic, or pessimistic. In fact, we are here to call on all of us to double down on multilateralism founded on international law. Even small states and middle powers have the agency and we have strategic autonomy to collectively protect our long-term national interests and the global commons.”

 

Sitiveni Rabuka, Prime Minister of FIJI:

“Fiji reiterates its long-standing support for multilateralism and the role the international rules-based order plays for the status and interests of small states…. The most critical challenge facing nations in the Pacific region is to find an enduring framework that influences the strategic competition between the major powers, towards a stable multipolar region where peace prevails… Our ocean, its diverse and vibrant lands, have been a theatre of the two World Wars, and a testing ground for the world’s most dangerous weapons – its impacts are still felt and seen today.”

 

Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, President of MONGOLIA:

“In an era defined by escalating conflicts, rising walls of distrust, and deepening divisions, it is more vital than ever to foster international relations grounded not merely in multipolarity, but on multi-pillar principles that honor the history, culture, civilization, national interests and unique development paths of each nation… The United Nations, serving as the cornerstone for the peaceful and harmonious coexistence among nations, must be reinforced and empowered through strong, multi-pillar principles that ensure equal rights and balanced influence.”

 

Emmanuel Macron, President of FRANCE:

“We could heap a host of criticisms on our Assembly, including criticisms that aren’t entirely fair. This Assembly is us. If it’s ineffective, it’s because a few people are blocking it. And often the most powerful. If it’s not moving fast enough, it’s because we’re not determined enough to move it forward. The United Nations is all of us. One thing is certain: we have no right to cynicism.”

 

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Reflections on global economic governance and international financial architecture

William Samoei Ruto, President of KENYA:

“Without affordable finance and without reform of the international financial architecture, the promise of climate action in Africa will remain constrained. In the aftermath of World War II, the Bretton Woods institutions were created to stabilize the global economy and rebuild war-torn Europe. At the time, their design reflected the power and interests of the victorious nations, who were also their primary shareholders and beneficiaries. The IMF was tasked with upholding the gold standard exchange rate system, while the World Bank was established to finance Europe’s reconstruction. Both have since evolved into development finance institutions, but their structures, decision making, and governance remain dominated by wealthy countries. Today, the global context is vastly different… Yet the governance of these institutions has not kept pace with the needs of a multipolar world, especially the needs of poor and developing countries. The mismatch between shareholders and stakeholders has become starkly visible. For instance, during the IMF’s recent allocation of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), 64% went to wealthy countries with little need for liquidity support, while the poorest countries received just 2.4%. This imbalance highlights how the very institutions meant to safeguard global financial stability often perpetuate inequity. [T]he current global financial architecture punishes poor countries while rewarding the rich. Its rules, priorities, and allocation mechanisms consistently favor those already prosperous, while trapping vulnerable economies in cycles of debt, high borrowing costs, and inadequate access to emergency support. It is imperative to transform these institutions into genuinely independent, apolitical global bodies so that their operations are aligned with their global mandate. Such a shift would democratise decisionmaking, restore credibility, and allow the IMF and the World Bank to serve all countries fairly, rather than reinforcing old hierarchies.”

 

Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa, President of SOUTH AFRICA:

“There are many reasons that hold many countries from fulfilling and implementing [the SDGs]. Some of the reasons are lack of sufficient financial resources. Many countries with developing economies, especially in Africa, do not have adequate capital to finance their development goals. They are indebted and are paying more on debt servicing than they do on health and education. Yet through global solidarity, by having fairer lending rules especially for several countries of the Global South, we can achieve our shared commitment. Through the G20 process we are working towards consensus on how this problem can be tackled, including the reform of international financial institutions, particularly multilateral development banks, to better tackle global challenges. The multilateral trading system needs to be reformed as we re-confirm that the World Trade Organisation remains the only multilateral body capable of managing differences and coordinating positions in global trade.”

 

Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of JAMAICA:

“International financial institutions must integrate climate risk into lending decisions and develop new financing instruments to address climate vulnerability. The Seville Commitment offers a roadmap for transforming the global financial architecture to support climate action and sustainable development…. The global financing system remains fundamentally flawed. It penalises reforming economies like Jamaica with high borrowing costs while ignoring our vulnerabilities. Through sacrifice, discipline, and sound management, Jamaica has reduced its debt-to-GDP ratio from 144% to now 62%. Yet we remain locked out of concessional financing because of outdated metrics based solely on per-capita income. Jamaica supports the application of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index that more accurately assesses countries’ development needs and their eligibility for concessional financing.”

 

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of SOMALIA:

“The sustainable development goals are the blueprint for achieving dignity, justice and equality through real investment in human capital, job creation and social protection for the most vulnerable in all our communities. However, it was very clear from the fourth Financing for Development Conference in Seville earlier this year that the financing gap between our ambitions and the reality are very far apart. Today, developing nations are facing the triple shock of high debt burdens, higher cost of sovereign borrowing and expenditure on recurrent shocks which is impossible to budget for annually. The traditional economic model of forecasting predictable expenditure supported by clear revenue streams is no longer this simple. Governments of developing nations are also now subjected to real time investment cuts in core developmental activities, including health, education and basic infrastructure. This is because of realignment of the already dwindling development assistance they used to receive from developing nations. This is not sustainable if we as a community of nations are to achieve collective developmental progress together.” 

 

Faustin Archange Touadera, Head of State of CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC:

“Stressing the need for the development of a more just and more equitable system of international governance, we all agree on the principle of sustainable development. However, two obstacles stand in that way: financing and the distribution of responsibilities between the North and the South… Each one should bear the burden based on their historic responsibilities, because solidarity is not a moral option, it is a political obligation. That political obligation implies that sustainable development is the very condition of our common future.”

 

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, President of SRI LANKA:
“Many developing countries are constrained in their struggle against poverty by indebtedness. Low-income countries allocate twice as much towards debt servicing, than on education or healthcare. Our people and our countries are mired in debt traps. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development pledges to leave no one behind and to reach the last, first. The Agenda acknowledges the most critical challenge before the world is the challenge to end extreme poverty. I would also like to recall the decisions taken at the [World] Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen in 1995… [T]ime has come for us to accept inequality and poverty as a global catastrophe, and act accordingly.”

 

Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Minister for Foreign Affairs of THAILAND:

“Peace and human rights cannot stand without sustainable development. Yet today, development is under threat from rising protectionism. Tariffs and trade barriers may serve short-term interests, but they hurt us all in the long run and divide us when we need the most solidarity. Thailand believes that true prosperity is built not on walls of tariffs, but on bridges of trust. Our path forward is open and fair trade rooted in people-centered and inclusive development. But sustainable development is not just growth — it is also about values and the balance between progress and preservation.”

 

Kashim Shetima, Vice-President of NIGERIA:

“It has been over for decades since the Lagos Action Plan outlined a route away from debt and dependence that highlighted opportunities, that today should still be explored – for local added-value for processing and manufacturing in everything from agriculture to solid minerals and petrochemicals. The African Continental Free Trade Area is a remarkable achievement of co-operation. We remain fully committed to the achievement of SDGs, and are convinced this can be best delivered by focusing principally on our primary mission of growth and prosperity.”

 

Financing for Development vs. Military Expenditure

Toelupe Maoiautele Poumulinuku Onesemo, Deputy Prime Minister of SAMOA:

“The Financing for Development Conference in Sevilla was, regrettably, a missed opportunity. Since the Rio Conference in 1992, we have made countless pledges and commitments to the development agenda. But too often, we simply rebrand and recycle old ideas while failing to deliver tangible progress. Meanwhile multilateralism is under siege, and international financial commitments are being eroded. Overseas development assistance is being cut significantly and the global financing gap for the SDGs stands at over $4 trillion. Yet when it comes to war, funding is never in short supply. The stark contrast should give us pause.”

 

Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa, President of SOUTH AFRICA:

“The Secretary-General recently reported that global military expenditure has reached historic highs just as the world is falling behind on its core development promises. We are building weapons, when we should be building social infrastructure. We are fighting wars that cause death and destruction, when we should be fighting poverty and developing the livelihoods of vulnerable people.”

 

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of UKRAINE:

“To protect lives, we have to spend more on protecting power stations from drone and missile attacks than on building sports facilities or cultural infrastructure. Ukrainian farmers are learning how to protect their equipment from Russia’s FPV drone strikes, and for them, that challenge is far greater than climate change.”

 

Juan Ramón de la Fuente Ramírez, Minister for Foreign Affairs of MEXICO:

“Poverty persists in a world of exorbitant wealth — there are countries that spend more servicing their debt than they do in investments in health and education for their peoples and expenditure on arms has grown triple the rate of the global economy, just to mention a few. The diagnostic has always been clear, the arms race, the immoral concentration of wealth, violations of international law and of human rights, are the fuel that fuel the flames of war and violence.”

 

Joseph Aoun, President of LEBANON:

“Our country is dedicated to investing in quality education and is expanding this investment to encompass knowledge economy. Lebanon, strong with an invaluable human capital stands as an essential crossroads for global trade corridors. While advancing on all these fronts, our country simultaneously shoulders numerous burdens…. [T]here is the issue of providing the necessary means to our legal armed forces so that they may take on task in defending and safekeeping our national integrity. We remain hopeful about the public initiatives to organize international conferences dedicated to that purpose.”

 

Reparatory and Climate Justice 

 

Abdoulaye Maïga, Prime Minister of MALI:

“Africa has, for more than 20 years now, been demanding reforms to repair historic injustice that it has suffered, particularly in terms of its representation at the Security Council… [S]ince 1945 when the UN was created, we’ve held dozens of international conferences, and the commitments from these international conferences have barely been implemented, and they’re not being made to benefit the people that we represent here…. Global Governance needs to be reformed, and economic and financial institutions need to be reviewed too… innovative mechanisms, for example, like in BRICS, provide a constructive alternative that respects the interests of emerging and developing countries.”

 

Faustin Archange Touadera, Head of State of CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC:

“The role of Africa in the in the community of nations must be respected. Sovereignty rather than subordination, partnership rather than exploitation. It is unacceptable that poverty is worsening in Africa while rich, while wealth is accumulating in the northern countries. It’s time for the injustices caused the Africa to be repaired.”

 

Gaston Alphonso Browne, Prime Minister of ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA:

“Legal advisory opinions now define duties of states to prevent harm and protect the most exposed. If major emitters will not cut greenhouse gas emissions in line with science, victim states must retain the right to pursue appropriate legal remedies, consistent with international law, for climate harm. That is not hostility; it is the logic of the law; It is justice… We assert that justice cannot be complete without addressing historic injustices. In the Caribbean the stain of colonialism, slavery and native genocide, is still branded in the legacies we were left. The Trans-Atlantic slave trade was the most heinous crime committed against humanity. We seek reparatory justice from those who committed these atrocities; who kept our forebears in physical chains and mental slavery for hundreds of years. Colonialism and slavery have imposed the rigid trade routes with which we now live, the underdevelopment from which we are seeking to rise up, the constraints that make us suppliers and not producers. Reparatory justice is not charity, it is principled restitution for wealth extracted, for unpaid labour, barbaric killings and physical abuse endured by our forebears.” 

 

Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa, President of SOUTH AFRICA:

“Climate change is reversing economic growth and development gains in many countries, especially in the Global South. Although Africa carries the least responsibility for climate change, many countries on the continent experience much of its harshest effects… Member States must honour their undertakings and commitments in line with the guiding principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.”

 

Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of SOMALIA:

“Climate change is wreaking havoc across the world with the most vulnerable countries suffering systemic and repetitive meteorological and socio-economic shocks. This is devastating economies, destroying livelihoods and diverting limited public resources towards mitigation and adaptation responses which take away from other vital social investments like education and health. The impact of climate change is forcing governments in developing countries, including my own, to make impossible financial trade-offs which hamper our own aspirations for investing in resilience and development. Around 10% of developing nations’ budgets are diverted to responding to climate change. This needs to be addressed urgently through the developed industrialised nations by meeting their financial obligations for the climate crisis they continue to exacerbate. Less than 3% of the global climate finance reaches the African continent despite emitting the least and the disproportionate and disastrous impact on the African people. This is unacceptable…. Despite our efforts, accessing climate finance remains too slow and complex. As our government strengthens its domestic revenue capacity and initiates the processes for pre-arrange disaster risk financing, we call for financial support that is accessible, affordable, predictable, and just from international financial institutions and the capital markets. Nations on the frontlines like Somalia cannot be left to face this crisis alone unsupported by the dominant Global Financial Architecture which is not fit for purpose in this age of great challenge.”

 

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Continued calls for UN Security Council reforms

William Samoei Ruto, President of KENYA:

“As we mark the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, Africa also marks 20 years since the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, the two historic milestones that established the Common African Position on UN Security Council reform. For two decades, Africa has spoken in one voice, demanding justice, equity, and representation in the highest organ of global governance. This demand, however, continues to be ignored, deferred, or endlessly debated to the detriment of both Africa and the legitimacy of the United Nations itself. You cannot claim to be the United Nations while disregarding the voice of 54 nations. Africa is no longer willing to wait on the margins of global governance, while decisions about peace, security, and development are made without our understanding, perspectives and voice. Africa’s exclusion is not only unacceptable, unfair, and grossly unjust; it also undermines the very credibility of the United Nations. Africa dominates most of the Security Council’s agenda, provides some of the largest contingents to UN peacekeeping, and bears the heaviest costs of instability. Yet we remain the only continent without a permanent seat at the table, where decisions about our destiny are made. Africa deserves two permanent seats with full rights, including the veto, and two additional non-permanent seats on the UN Security Council. The world must understand that reforming the Security Council is not a favour to Africa; it is a necessity for the UN’s own survival. If the UN is to remain relevant in this Century, it must reflect today’s realities, not the post-war power arrangements of 1945. Despite the stated and evident weaknesses of the United Nations, it still remains humanity’s best chance at global solidarity. No other institution has the universal legitimacy or convening power of the UN…. In conclusion, the 80th anniversary of the United Nations must be more than a commemoration; it must be a turning point for the Organisation.”

 

Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs of SINGAPORE:

“The UN Charter confers on the UN Security Council the ‘primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security’. It clearly needs reform to better fulfil this mandate. The increasing, and if I may add, cynical use of vetoes by the P5 must be constrained and the wider UN membership must reach agreement on how this veto is to be exercised in the future. We commend the role played by the Elected Members of the Council, which gives the wider membership of the UN greater agency in addressing the pressing issues of the day. We also believe it is important to strengthen the relationship between the Security Council and the General Assembly.”

 

Nataša Pirc Musar, President of the Republic of SLOVENIA:

“We all recognise that [the Security Council] is the principal organ entrusted with the maintenance of international peace and security. But what it is not – and must never be – is a body that stands above international law to defend the interests of some at the expense of others. Jus cogens norms must be safeguarded as a matter of principle. If the prohibitions against genocide and crimes against humanity are accepted as jus cogens norms, can any permanent member claim a legitimate veto right in such circumstances? Member States have attempted to address this question through many reform proposals, with minimal progress. That is why we must dare to go further now. We, the General Assembly, must take  a bold step and request an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on this very question.”

 

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of INDIA:

“An objective report card will show that the UN is in a state of crisis. When peace is under threat from conflicts, when development is derailed by lack of resources, when human rights are violated by terrorism, the UN remains gridlocked. As its ability to forge common ground diminishes, belief in multilateralism also recedes. Central to the erosion of UN’s credibility has been resistance to reform. Most members strongly desire change; but the process is being made an obstacle to the outcome. It is imperative that we see through this cynicism and purposefully address the reform agenda. The historical injustice done to Africa should be redressed. Both permanent and non-permanent membership of the Council must be expanded. A reformed Council must be truly representative. And India stands ready to assume greater responsibilities.”

 

Alexander Stubb, President of FINLAND:

“The composition of the UN still largely reflects the world of 1945. As the world has changed drastically, so should the decision-making at the UN. Last year in this very hall, I argued for a reformed Security Council, a Council where currently underrepresented regions would have a stronger voice through permanent seats at the table. The number of permanent members should be increased at the Security Council. At least, there should be two new seats for Asia, two for Africa and one for Latin America. No single state should have veto power. And, if a member of the Security Council violates the UN Charter, its voting rights should be suspended. I believe that these changes at the top of the UN are necessary in order maintain the UN’s central role in international relations.”

 

Johann Wadephul, Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of GERMANY:

“After 80 years we must make sure that our institutions represent the world as it is today. The Security Council needs additional seats – permanent and non-permanent – in order to reflect the world’s actual realities. Germany is convinced that additional permanent seats must go to regions underrepresented today: Africa, Asia and Latin America. Now more than ever, we need our United Nations to be fit for purpose.”

 

Faustin Archange Touadera, Head of State of CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC:

“80 years ago, when the United Nations was born, Africa was not free. Most of our countries still were living under a colonial control. Our voice did not count at the time… How come we speak of international justice and security when the continent of tomorrow is treated as though it was the continent of the past?  Central African Republic brings to the voice of Africa to say enough Africa must have two permanent seats with the right to veto not as a favor to it, but as a measure of justice, not as a privilege but as a need.”

 

Winston Peters, Minister for Foreign Affairs of NEW ZEALAND:

“The shift in the international order from rules to power continues its malignant path while the Security Council is effectively paralysed on many of the acute geopolitical challenges it faces. This inability to act – largely a product of the veto power by the ‘Permanent Five’ – impacts deeply on perceptions of the United Nations’ broader legitimacy… For a small state like New Zealand, whose security and prosperity for the past 80 years has relied on a functioning multilateral system, the erosion of that system is hugely troubling, and costly… The United Nations’ reform effort needs to rise to the scale of its current structural, fiscal, and geopolitical challenges.”

 

Mohamad Hasan, Minister for Foreign Affairs of MALAYSIA:
“Malaysia believes that three urgent reforms are key to our survival. First, we must limit, if not abolish, the veto. We must challenge it each and every time that is wielded, particularly in cases of crimes against humanity. Second, authority must flow back to the General Assembly. As the most inclusive body of this House, it should be allowed to serve as the conscience and voice of the world unimpeded. Third, we must redesign global financing mechanisms to ensure that transparency and fairness for the Global South.“

 

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Urgency to cooperate on harnessing digital technologies and AI 

Amon Murwira, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Trade of ZIMBABWE:

“The role of ICT and AI in transforming lives and accelerating development is indisputable. It is, however, equally observed that criminals are using ICT for harmful behaviour, with serious destabilizing consequences to society. Zimbabwe remains supportive of the establishment of frameworks and strategies to combat the use of technology for criminal purposes. The Global Dialogue on AI Governance should assist all countries.”

 

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of UKRAINE:

“It used to be that only the strongest countries could use drones, because they were expensive and complex. Now even simple drones can fly thousands of kilometers… [W]hat happens when all the types of drones become available even to small terrorist groups or cartels? The world moves too slowly to protect itself. And weapons move fast. Now, companies are already working on drones that can shoot down other drones. It’s only a matter of time, not much, before drones are fighting drones, attacking critical infrastructure and targeting people, all by themselves, fully autonomous, and no human involved – except the few who control AI systems…. We are now living through the most destructive arms race in human history, because this time, it includes artificial intelligence. And if there are no real security guarantees… will there be any place left on Earth that’s still safe for people?”

 

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, President of SRI LANKA:

“Digital democracy is one of our aims. Ensuring that every person in every nation can enjoy the opportunities and benefits presented by the digital age is a global challenge. If we succeed in our task, we will be able to open doors to technology, accelerate development, and strengthen governance. If we fail, technology will turn into yet another force deepening inequality, insecurity and injustice. The digital divide between States is stark. An even greater gap is being created in relation to artificial intelligence. Sri Lanka and many other developing nations are facing challenges in using AI as a development tool due to inadequate infrastructure. I invite the international community to work together to remove AI technological inequalities. To fund such efforts, we need cooperation and partnership. I present to this Assembly a proposal to set up a neutral sovereign Artificial Intelligence Zone in Sri Lanka, centred on a green AI data centre, a special economic zone, and a data system facility for partner nations.”

 

Luong Cuong, State President of VIET NAM:

“We must build sustainable development models based on digital transformation and green transition – two mutually reinforcing drivers that can spark a sweeping revolution as they stand for convergence of scientific and technological advancements and environmental sustainability. To optimize this ‘dual transformation’, countries must formulate relevant master plans, invest strongly in R&D, train high-quality human resources, and develop green technology infrastructure. Furthermore, it is of great importance to advance international cooperation on technology transfer and mobilization of green finance. To ensure that no one is left behind, developed countries must take responsibility in sharing and transferring technology to developing and under-developed countries.”

 

David Lammy, Deputy Prime Minister of UNITED KINGDOM:

“AI is the most powerful new lever we have to advance the Charter’s vision of social progress and better standards of life…. AI can empower freedom, or it can entrench repression. AI can empower truth, or it can entrench lies. AI can empower law, or it can empower crime. Only by cooperation together can we set artificial intelligence on the right millennia-defining course…. [W]ithout a concerted effort, we risk a world of ever deeper inequality, where the benefits of this technology fail to reach those who need it the most…. This is why our approach to foreign policy is one of progressive realism, patiently advancing progress through pragmatism and persistence. I see this in the United Nations as it approaches the technological frontier. I salute the Secretary-General for championing the Global Digital Compact, which embodies both progress and realism. And this is why I commend the new Independent International Scientific Panel on AI, which will provide evidence-based assessments to all. And I welcome the new Global Dialogue on AI Governance. It is in this spirit of progressive realism that the UK champions AI as a bridge builder across the Atlantic, across the Commonwealth, and across continents.”