Contrasting Visions at UN: Trump's Sovereignty vs. Jaishankar's Multilateralism Highlights Global North-South Divide

At the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), discussions about the UN's relevance reached unprecedented levels. With two ongoing major conflicts fragmenting global unity on international governance issues, the organization's effectiveness appeared more questionable than ever. The UN itself characterized our era as an "age of reckless disruption," acknowledging the necessity for structural reforms. While this year's New York gathering demonstrated widespread agreement on reform needs, it simultaneously revealed an emerging division in global politics that will likely influence international approaches in coming decades.

Each year, the UNGA serves as a platform for nations to express their perspectives on global governance and consider improvements. This year highlighted two contrasting approaches to global challenges that are straining the UN framework. On one side, we witnessed unbridled Trumpism characterized by efforts to reverse globalism and reassert sovereignty. The opposing side featured countries like India emphasizing the restoration of multilateralism. These diverging approaches, symbolizing the widening gap between the Global North and South, will likely shape future global governance structures, particularly the UN's evolution as it approaches its centenary.

After a challenging start with technical difficulties, the US president delivered remarks in his characteristic style, criticizing the UN's shortcomings and highlighting concerns about terrorism, uncontrolled migration, biological warfare, and cultural identity erosion. Trump's presentation clearly intended to portray the UN and international community negatively compared to a "Golden Age of America," using economic power, sovereignty, and military strength as measurement standards. His comments largely reflected current US domestic developments, with criticisms of illegal immigration, green energy, and international terrorism conveniently aligned with ongoing American socio-political tensions. Today's US foreign policy increasingly reflects the rise of conservative politics domestically. Trump presented a restricted view of freedom of expression and religious liberty, representing the growing Judeo-Christian pushback against other religious and cultural identities in America. Essentially, his entire speech opposed globalism and advocated for its reversal.

These views starkly contrasted with the Global South's position, particularly India's emphasis on multilateralism and a "duty to contribute and an obligation to motivate." Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar's UN address connected the reality of diverse histories, traditions, and cultures with the necessity for coexistence and mutual enrichment among nations and peoples. India called for addressing challenges like terrorism and climate change as collective threats. The country highlighted its commitment to over 600 major development projects across 78 countries, alongside community-focused approaches and emphasis on the four Fs—finance, food, fertilizer, and fuel—in its regional engagement. From India's perspective, the Global South faces limited options due to ongoing conflicts, resource scarcity, and terrorism threats, with the UN offering minimal effective solutions.

The 80th UNGA session blended familiar calls for urgent UN reform with new elements stemming from ongoing global conflicts and, notably, a US president willing to potentially weaken the organization through funding reductions or restrictive policies. Today's UN faces a fundamental dilemma—dependency on major world powers and economies for funding while promising impartiality and democratic representation globally. As it approaches its centenary, pressure intensifies for UN reform, particularly of the Security Council, which exemplifies the gap between representation and decision-making authority. Under Trump's policies, the US appears to be strategically retreating from its previously championed globalism. For the Global South, this presents a crucial opportunity to advance its position.

(Harsh V. Pant is Vice President, ORF, and Vivek Mishra is Fellow, Americas, at the organisation)

Disclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author