UAE Highlights UN's Tough Test Amid Crises from Gaza to Ukraine

The UAE says the United Nations' effectiveness depends on the international community's willingness to act, especially major powers. This comes as the UN marks its 80th anniversary while facing severe tests from crises in Gaza, Ukraine, climate change, and development challenges.

Dr. Anwar Gargash, diplomatic advisor to the UAE President, posted on X that these multiple crises are putting the UN under intense pressure. But he stressed the organization remains a necessary space for dialogue and finding solutions that promote international peace and security.

The timing is significant. UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned during a high-level General Assembly meeting that UN principles face more attacks now than ever before. He called peace "the most courageous, practical, and necessary pursuit of all."

Guterres pointed to familiar and new challenges ahead. The fight against hunger and poverty continues, alongside climate chaos and the militarization of outer space. He emphasized that strengthening the UN system is central to the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the Pact for the Future.

General Assembly President Analena Baerbock took a stark tone. She said the day wasn't for celebration but for remembering hard lessons and finding courage to choose hope over surrender. The world stands at a crossroads, she noted, pointing to Gaza's war consequences, ongoing fighting in Ukraine, violence in Sudan, gang warfare in Haiti, spreading hatred, and floods and droughts worldwide.

The contrast with the UN's founding is sharp. Baerbock recalled how the UN Charter, signed on June 26, 1945, represented more than political declaration. It was a promise from leaders to their people that humanity had learned from its darkest chapters. The Charter didn't promise heaven, she said, but pledged never again to let hatred and unchecked ambition drag the world into hell.

Austria's Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger joined calls for UN reform to meet future requirements. She emphasized that only cooperation and solidarity can achieve security, backing the rule of law over might makes right. Austria is seeking a Security Council seat for 2027-2028, with Meinl-Reisinger saying the country wants to take responsibility again and contribute effectively to building security.

For global institutions and international relations, this anniversary highlights a critical moment. The UN faces credibility tests while major powers often pursue conflicting interests. The organization's ability to address interconnected crises - from regional conflicts to climate change - depends on whether member states, particularly the most powerful ones, choose multilateral cooperation over unilateral action.