Annalena Baerbock, President of the UN General Assembly, has brushed aside speculation that US President Donald Trump intends to undermine the United Nations by creating a rival international body.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Baerbock said the United Nations existed to safeguard global peace and security, and that its inclusive structure was fundamental to its legitimacy.
She noted that every country was represented at the UN for good reason, irrespective of its economic power or military capability.
Trump has come under criticism following the announcement of a Board of Peace, which he is expected to chair and which is tasked with overseeing post-war reconstruction in Gaza. Reports suggest the board’s charter, expected to be signed this week, could extend its scope beyond the Gaza Strip.
Some critics have described the move as an attempt to sideline the United Nations in managing international crises. Baerbock rejected that interpretation, stressing that the board’s mandate had been defined by the UN Security Council and was limited to Gaza.
She said the UN Charter remained central to global peace, security and prosperity, adding that most countries viewed international cooperation and rules-based order as vital to their political stability and economic growth.
Baerbock warned that attempts by individual states to advance their interests through force risk undermining the collective system that had helped maintain global stability for decades.
