In a striking move with profound political implications, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sharply and directly criticized leaders who treat international agreements with contempt, coinciding with US President Donald Trump's address to attendees at the Davos Economic Forum in Switzerland on Wednesday.
Guterres tweeted on his official Twitter account: “When leaders treat international law with contempt, picking and choosing which rules to apply and ignoring others, they undermine the global order and set a dangerous precedent.” These remarks reflect the UN’s concern about the unilateralism that has come to dominate the global political landscape.
The context of the conflict between pluralism and monism
Guterres's statements cannot be read in isolation from the broader context of this year's Davos Forum. The UN Secretary-General has long been a staunch advocate of multilateralism and collective action to address global challenges such as climate change and armed conflict. In contrast, US President Donald Trump, during his presidency, adopted the "America First" slogan, favoring bilateral approaches and withdrawing from several international agreements, thus creating a clear divergence in vision between Washington and the international organization.
In his tweets, Guterres added a warning about another threat to modern democracies: "When a few individuals are able to distort global narratives of events, influence elections, or dictate the direction of public debate, we are faced with inequality and corruption that affects institutions and our shared values." This part of his statement points to the growing dangers of disinformation and cyberattacks, which have become effective tools in modern warfare.
Consequences of the erosion of international law
Guterres' warning reflects genuine fears of a collapse of the rules-based order established after World War II. The selective application of international law creates an environment of impunity, where major powers feel above accountability, while small and developing states remain the most vulnerable to the absence of international justice.
Observers believe that the timing of these criticisms, coinciding with Trump's speech, highlights the deep divisions within the global elite gathered in Davos. These divisions exist between a current advocating for globalization and international cooperation to resolve crises, and a populist nationalist current that views international institutions as obstacles to national sovereignty. This divergence casts a dark shadow over the international community's ability to make decisive decisions on critical issues that threaten the planet's future.
