As he begins the presidency of the group of the 20 largest economies in the world (G20), Brazil’s Foreign Minister called for reforms in the United Nations and other multilateral institutions, while criticizing the agency’s inability to prevent global conflicts.
Mauro Vieira told the foreign ministers of the other nations in the group that the UN Security Council has been unable to prevent or stop conflicts such as those occurring in Ukraine and Gaza.
“Multilateral institutions are not adequately equipped to deal with current challenges, as demonstrated by the unacceptable paralysis of the Security Council regarding ongoing conflicts,” Vieira said.
One of Brazil’s main proposals, presented by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, is a reform of global institutions, such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and multilateral banks, to include a stronger representation of developing nations.
It is difficult to know if Lula’s effort will be successful, as the permanent members of the Security Council have previously rejected reform attempts that would result in a loss of their power.
But Lula seems determined to give more voice to the so-called “Global South” (broadly encompassing Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia (excluding Israel, Japan, and South Korea), and Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand).
Brazil insists that the African Union (AU) should be a formal member of the G20, citing the example of the European Union. The AU will fully participate in this year’s G20 on behalf of African nations.
Members of the South American customs union Mercosur have also been invited to participate under Brazil’s presidency.
Bringing more developing nations to the table increases pressure on financial institutions traditionally controlled by Europe and the United States to consider proposals like Brazil’s to reduce countries’ debts by converting them into investments, for example.
The rise of the Global South in the G20 causes some discomfort among wealthier countries. But developed countries will have to deal with the new geopolitical realities, said EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell to Reuters.
The G20 was initiated after the financial crisis of 2007-2008 to include major emerging economies in negotiations that were previously confined to the Group of Seven most industrialized countries and has become the main venue for economic and financial cooperation.
The G20 represents about 85% of global GDP, more than 75% of global trade, and about two-thirds of the world’s population.
The concept of the Global South emerged to designate developing, emerging, or low-income countries, primarily in the Southern Hemisphere, and replaced the term “Third World” after the end of the Cold War.
Source: AP and Reuters