Guterres: The world is irreversibly moving toward a multipolar system

New Delhi – Agencies: UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on all countries to respect their obligations under the UN Charter and international law, including the principles of sovereign equality, respect for territorial integrity and political independence of states, rights and freedoms of international navigation, peaceful settlement of disputes, international humanitarian law, and international human rights law. Speaking at the opening of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Sunday evening, Guterres said the world is “irreversibly moving toward a multipolar system,” calling for reform of global institutions, increased support for developing countries, enhanced action on artificial intelligence and climate change, and renewed efforts to achieve peace. He noted that the economic, demographic, and geopolitical realities of today’s world differ fundamentally from those in 1945, adding, “Our institutional structures must reflect that,” pointing out that BRICS member states embody this changing reality. Guterres said multipolarity can bring “balance and fairness to global systems and institutions,” but stressed that this requires reform of multilateral global institutions, including the Security Council and the Bretton Woods financial system, so they reflect today’s world. The Secretary-General called for reform of the international financial architecture, granting developing countries greater participation and influence in decision-making, to ensure “greater fairness and justice” and help address historical injustices. He noted that multilateral development banks must become larger, better, and bolder, through a new business model capable of mobilizing large-scale private investments and expanding financing on concessional terms for developing countries.