By Wendellyn C. Mateo
The growing uncertainty of conflicts across the world has triggered calls for reforms of major global institutions, including from United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who sounded the alarm over mounting crises from climate change to peace while on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro.
The 17th gathering of the intergovernmental organisation in Brazil this week saw a flood of voices from the Global South highlight the importance of cooperation in achieving more inclusive and sustainable governance.
And Guterres lent his support to those pleas, going so far as to call for major reforms, particularly of the Security Council.
Systems for a ‘bygone age’
Guterres highlighted ongoing conflicts around the world – including in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan and Myanmar – and added that bodies like the Security Council and international financial systems were made “for a bygone age, a bygone world, with a bygone system of power relations”, according to a UN press release.
He believes a reform of the Security Council is “crucial” and that priorities should include ensuring a greater voice for developing nations, especially in global governance.
Reforms should also consider effective debt restructuring and increasing multilateral bank lending.
The UN official reminded participants that cooperation and trust remained the way forward, saying: “At a time when multilateralism is being undermined, let us remind the world that cooperation is humanity’s greatest innovation.”
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Environment, health and AI issues
Guterres further urged nations to address health and climate issues, reiterating the devastation of disasters and their impact on sustainable development gains, not only for the environment but also for human health.
The vulnerable and the poor, he noted, often pay “the highest price”.
In addition, during a session on multilateralism, economic-financial affairs, and AI, Guterres cautioned that there is a need to “minimize the risk and maximize the potential” of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
This means making AI benefit all rather than a select few, with Guterres moreover insisting on the importance of a “real voice” for developing nations on global AI governance.
“We cannot govern AI effectively and fairly without confronting deeper, structural imbalances in our global system,” he noted.
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BRICS takes stance despite absences
Under the theme, “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance”, the summit was hosted by Brazil from Sunday to Monday.
There were a number of notable leader absences, though, with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin skipping the event.
Nevertheless, BRICS nations released a declaration that called for peace and global cooperation while also taking a defiant stance against United States leader Donald Trump’s slew of tariffs.
“We voice serious concerns about the rise of unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures which distort trade and are inconsistent with WTO [World Trade Organization] rules,” the statement said, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Trump, however, hit back on Monday in a scathing post on his Truth Social platform.
“Any Country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS, will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff,” he warned.
“There will be no exceptions to this policy. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
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