Intervenção do Ministro Mauro Vieira na Reunião de Chanceleres do IBAS, à margem do Debate Geral da 80ª AGNU - Nova York, 26 setembro de 2024

Excellencies, dear colleagues,

It is an honor to host you for the 13th meeting of the IBSA Ministerial Commission of the India-Brazil-South Africa Dialogue Forum.

When IBSA was created in 2003, it reflected a shared vision: that three of the world’s leading pluralistic, multicultural and multiethnic democracies from the Global South could work together to foster dialogue, cooperation and the articulation of common positions on issues of global relevance, while also serving as an instrument of solidarity through initiatives such as the IBSA Fund. The world has changed dramatically since then, and it is precisely these changes that render the principles that brought us together even more relevant.

Today, we meet at a moment of profound reconfiguration of global power structures, marked by unilateralism, intimidation and the erosion of trust. We are witnessing renewed attacks on democracy, the proliferation of authoritarian discourses, the dangerous spread of disinformation and hate speech, and the gradual dismantling of international aid.

As we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, we are compelled to note with concern the systematic weakening of multilateralism. What we face today is not an isolated crisis affecting a single organization, but a broader erosion of the very institutions we worked so hard to build, institutions that have provided stability and guidance for the international community for more than eight decades.

These institutions are indeed in need of reform, as IBSA has been underscoring for over twenty years. Yet reform must not become a pretext for dismantling or disregarding the rules and mechanisms that safeguard peaceful coexistence among nations.

Eighty years after its adoption, the UN Charter remains the cornerstone of international relations, but it also reveals clear signs of disconnect with today’s reality.

Issues that define our current agenda, such as sustainable development, climate change, gender equality, peacebuilding, and environmental protection were absent or only marginally addressed in the original UN Charter. This gap between the Charter’s provisions and the challenges of our time has contributed to the weakening of multilateralism and undermined the capacity of the UN to deliver on its mandates.

In this context, the comprehensive reform of the United Nations Charter, as envisaged in Article 109, has become an urgent necessity. Reform must not dilute the principles of the Charter, but rather strengthen and update them so that the Organization remains effective, legitimate, and truly representative. This effort must revitalize the General Assembly, transform ECOSOC, reinforce the Peacebuilding Commission, and, above all, finally advance long-overdue reform of the Security Council.

To move forward, we support the creation of a Group of Friends for the Comprehensive Reform of the Charter, tasked with engaging Member States, setting a strategy, and paving the way for a Review Conference. Brazil’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York has been instructed to coordinate with IBSA partners with a view to ascertain the Group’s interest in launching such an initiative, in line with the mandate given by our leaders on the margins of the G20 and as reflected in the latest IBSA Declaration.

The case of the World Trade Organization is also emblematic. The paralysis of its dispute settlement mechanism has opened the door to further trade fragmentation and to the proliferation of unilateral measures. Even more concerning, we are now witnessing an extremely dangerous shift towards the misuse of trade policy to interfere in the internal affairs of states.

On the negotiation pillar, the core areas of interest for developing countries have not been addressed yet, and the current rules of procedure make it difficult for us to agree on a path to move forward. The refoundation of the WTO is urgent, and Brazil is working on a proposal to contribute to this discussion. The engagement of large, developing and pluralistic economies such as the IBSA countries, which are possibly even more vulnerable to acts of trade coercion, is essential to achieve fair and effective multilateral institutions that can truly deliver for all.

Dear colleagues,

Looking ahead, the convening of the next IBSA Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg this November, on the margins of the G20 Summit, will be of great significance. If confirmed, it will be the first IBSA Leaders’ meeting since 2011. South Africa’s leadership, as the incoming Chair, will be key to ensuring that this event marks a new chapter for IBSA. The return of Leaders’ Summits will bring renewed political weight to our forum, and we should use this momentum to place IBSA at the center of international attention once again.

We also believe that it is time to strengthen the political consultation dimension of IBSA. In a divided world, IBSA can build bridges. The IBSA Fund remains a natural and effective instrument to reach developing countries, but we can go beyond technical cooperation. By reinforcing the Fund and giving it greater visibility, we show in practical terms the benefits of South-South solidarity. At the same time, we can explore avenues to engage more directly with other partners, ensuring that IBSA is seen not only as a platform of the Global South but also as a constructive voice in broader international cooperation.

Another important step would be to finalize and sign the IBSA Memorandum of Understanding on Defense. Enhanced defense cooperation would complement our shared vision for peace and security, while reinforcing our broader agenda of stability, trust, and sustainable development.

The strength of IBSA lies in its ability to unite three diverse yet like-minded nations that share democratic values, confront similar challenges, and are committed to building a fairer, more inclusive global order. By working together, we demonstrate that the Global South is not a passive actor, but a proactive force shaping the international system in a constructive and balanced way.

Thank you.