The Allies' Resolve, the Friends' Sweetness
Write about a situation I observed throughout my tenure as a permanent representative at the United Nations, where I saw ambassadors from wealthy nations engaging with everyone—the powerful and the weak, the established and the new, the rich and the poor—in campaigns aimed at affirming the sincerity of allies in their commitments and ensuring the sweetness of friends in their encouragement. I used to wonder about the case of South Korea, which is economically wealthy, prominent in its innovations, and backed by the powerful, particularly the United States. Despite all these guaranteed assurances for its stability and the preservation of its identity, it remains in search of more friends, aspiring to multiply its allies, and above all, it strives with all mechanisms to acquire a surplus of these friendships. The leftist North does not overlook these South Korean efforts, while the issue of hostility between North and South Korea remains a situation worthy of continuous observation, due to the diversity of its mechanisms for gaining supporters and using all different means, including the lure of visits to capitals, the presence of gifts, and the elevation of courtesy in communication and dialogue.
In truth, all delegations, not just South Korea, regardless of the size of their friendships, do not hesitate in their pursuit of adding new friends, for the sweetness of friendships has no boundaries or constraints. Every level of friendship has its mechanisms, most of which do not deviate from the standard mechanisms recognized within the United Nations. The file of friendships remains influential and reflects a recognized status within the UN; it involves no heavy commitments, although it is affected by the type of diplomacy a state follows. The situation between North and South Korea has been a constant example for observation, continuing the heat of competition and both sides’ readiness to continue seeking an escalation in the number of allies. This file remains complex, as alliances with North Korea rarely rise. Its system is close to Russia’s, cold toward China, and adventurous in its diplomacy, positioning itself in sites of confrontation between states. It is allied with Russia and supports its efforts to thwart Ukraine’s success in transitioning toward NATO alliance countries. To affirm this stance, North Korea sent troops to the battlefield, reinforcing and deepening its permanent support for Russia against Ukraine. Meanwhile, South Korea remains within the alliance framework, represented by the partnership of major powers in preserving South Korea’s independence and political system, while North Korea remains a party to the military alliance led by Russia.
The socialist systems that were members of the United Nations were at their best in the last century, but they remained stagnant in their economic approach and politically inflexible, with their capacity to achieve effectiveness in their diplomacy diminishing. In contrast, South Korea harvested economic and technological developments that granted it the ability to escalate its political and diplomatic effectiveness. Its activities in global economic bodies increased, and its political and economic influence grew in its bilateral relations, especially with developing countries that welcome the assistance it provides to help them in their development programs. The South Korean government received this development in its role within international economic activities with a positive response, which enhanced its standing not only economically but also politically and strategically. South Korea’s mechanisms of presence diversified, allowing it to transcend, in its efforts to affirm its identity, the circle of aid and assistance, moving from development aspects to diplomatic effectiveness within the framework of the United Nations and in the realm of bilateral relations with various countries.
It is clear that the South Korean government has moved toward expanding its diplomatic side in its dialogues, especially with non-aligned countries, which have accepted the benefits provided by the South Korean government to developing nations. It also exploited the decline that affected socialist diplomacy, sponsored by Moscow, which revealed Moscow’s inability to fulfill its political and developmental commitments due to its continued war with Ukraine, which relies heavily on support from Western countries, particularly the United States and Britain. Meanwhile, North Korea, supported by the left, faces a decline in its political and diplomatic presence and an escalation of its economic problems, which have weakened its participation in assisting developing countries, especially in Africa.
Through the dense presence of ambassadors within the United Nations building, especially during the annual session of the UN General Assembly, we, as the Kuwaiti delegation, observe both sides contemplating support. South Korea, open economically and politically, and the North Korean communist delegate, full of promises but lacking implementation, seek support and backing to alleviate the burdens of isolation and raise morale toward a shared future. Both sides raced to secure the largest amount of supporters, with the main goal being to win the largest number of members, without questioning the mechanisms that achieve victory.
Kuwait lived during the occupation period in an atmosphere similar to the Korean situation in expanding the circle of allies and friends. Kuwait represents a reality that expanded in scope with the proliferation of developing countries joining the UN membership, strengthening the enthusiasm of capable states to contribute to development programs sponsored by the United Nations. Kuwait, as a state economically recovered, politically mature, and security-wise weak, was subjected to Iraqi aggression due to this weakness, wounding its pride. It consciously shifted to the logic of necessities in allying with strong friends and partners in interest, who are determined to safeguard stability to ensure the continuation of progress, in accordance with the principles embodied in the UN Charter and consistent with the rules of global collective security, affirmed by the UN Security Council in its resolutions regarding the Iraqi aggression against the State of Kuwait in 1990.
Abdullah Basharahil
