Reflections on Multilateral Diplomacy

Abstract

In recent times, we cannot forget that the UN, particularly the Security Council, became guilty of criminal and unforgivable dereliction of duty in the face of the greatest existential threat to humanity, when it failed to act jointly to fight an invisible microbe. The Security Council could not even meet because of the structural imbalance of the Council. A Chinese veto left the Council paralysed at a crucial time in history. Much of the havoc in terms of lives lost and suffering endured around the world could have been averted if only a multilateral approach was adopted like in the case of other, even less lethal infectious diseases. The fervent appeal for a UN Health Keeping Force (Red Berets), cessation of hostilities and lifting of economic sanctions fell on deaf ears. The question today is whether the UN can be reformed to make it more effective, efficient and purposeful as the world has been trying to do for many years. In sheer desperation, the world is in search of new multilateral arrangements without the infirmities of the UN as it is today. The record of the UN is commendable in many areas and still has a role in the world. It has been resilient and adapted to the needs of the present day. Many issues such as terrorism, HIV/AIDS, Outer Space, Yoga and others have been inscribed on the agenda. The Specialised Agencies have been very active in the developing countries. Peace-making, peacebuilding and peace enforcement have had many successes. Therefore, the UN will survive the forthcoming changes, but it will be forced to restructure itself. India has expressed strong commitment to “reformed multilateralism”, the contours of which are yet to be defined.