US secretary of state Marco Rubio on Wednesday said the world lacks a functional international system capable of addressing major conflicts. He listed out the nations at dispute, as he argued that countries will act in their own national interests when global mechanisms fail.Speaking to reporters during the UN general assembly week in New York, Rubio said there was broad agreement among world leaders that the international system was failing. He said the system had moved beyond its intended role and was unable to resolve major conflicts.“It would be great if we had a functional international system, for example, that could deal with a war between Thailand and Cambodia that occurred…Right now, we don’t seem to have a functional international system that can address it,” Rubio said.
‘International system is failing’
Rubio said multiple leaders had raised concerns about the functioning of the international system during the high-level UNGA week.“I think multiple leaders…pointed to the fact that the international system is failing, and it’s failing because it has grown beyond its mandate. It has grown beyond its intent. It’s involved in all kinds of things that it shouldn’t be involved in, and it’s unable to solve virtually any major conflict in the world,” he said.The US secretary of state said there was “unanimity and consensus” among leaders that the system was broken.“But it’s broken because it broke itself. It needs to be brought back to its proper focus and its proper role,” Rubio said.
US sees ‘utility’ in international system
Despite his criticism, Rubio said Washington recognised the value of the international system and remained engaged with it.“We see the utility in the international system. We’re here…I think the President has said that the United Nations, for example, has tremendous potential, but it’s not living up to it…,” he told reporters.Rubio also said that when international mechanisms fail to address conflicts, individual countries will prioritise their own interests.The remarks also come as US President Donald Trump addressed the UN general assembly on Tuesday and claimed that his administration had helped resolve several international disputes.
