MULTILATERAL: Zelenskyy on NATO Unity & more – 7th Jan 2025

Saluton from BA! This is the Rorshok Multilateral Update from the 7th of January twenty twenty-five. A summary of what's going down in the world's major multilateral institutions.

For our first story, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cautioned that Vladimir Putin would target Europe if the US left NATO on Saturday, the 5th. In an interview, Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of NATO unity, stressing that the alliance is crucial to counter Russian aggression. He suggested that Putin’s ambitions extend beyond Ukraine, posing a threat to broader European stability. The remarks reflect Ukraine’s ongoing reliance on NATO’s support in its fight against Russia. These comments do not showcase Zelensky changing his attitude, since he has been saying that Russia poses a threat to the rest of Europe beyond just Ukraine for a long time.

US President-Elect Trump has threatened to leave NATO and demanded that other member countries of the organization contribute more to collective defense, with his remarks worrying European leaders.

On a related note, Poland assumed the EU presidency on Wednesday the 1st, promising to place a strong emphasis on security issues amid the war in Ukraine. Polish officials highlighted the need to bolster EU defenses, support Ukraine, and address threats from Russia. They also plan to focus on energy security and maintaining solidarity among member states. Polish leader Donald Tusk mainly aims to secure a peace deal in Ukraine. Despite his strong EU connections as a former European Council president and leader of the European People's Party, analysts think that Poland will need strong political allies within and outside of the EU to realize its ambitions.

More changes are coming to European multilateral leadership: on Wednesday the 1st, Finland took over the chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, pledging to focus on resolving conflicts and addressing security challenges, including the ongoing war in Ukraine. Finnish officials stressed their commitment to promoting dialogue and cooperation among member states despite the current tensions. Like Poland, Finnish leadership has been especially critical of Russia’s war in Ukraine, and even opted to join NATO shortly after the war began.

The Chairmanship is held annually by a participating State, with its Foreign Minister serving as the Chairperson-in-Office. This chairperson coordinates decision-making, oversees current activities, and represents the organization externally. Responsibilities include setting agendas, organizing meetings, and leading efforts in conflict prevention, crisis management, and post-conflict rehabilitation.

Moving to the Middle East, members of the UN Security Council were alarmed over reports of Israeli strikes on hospitals in Gaza during a heated meeting on Friday the 3rd. Multiple countries condemned the attacks, citing international laws protecting medical facilities in conflict zones. Israel defended its actions, saying that the hospitals were used for militant operations.

The ongoing violence in Gaza has drawn intense global criticism, with calls for restraint and adherence to humanitarian principles growing louder. This is not the first time that Israel has accused Hamas of using civilian infrastructure as cover.

Israel is also facing international pressure to release the head of one particular Gaza hospital who was detained over alleged ties to Hamas. Critics, including the World Health Organization, questioned the evidence against the doctor and called for due process on Monday the 30th of December. Israeli authorities argued that the arrest was part of efforts to combat Hamas' influence in the region.

Since the October attacks of twenty twenty-three, Israeli authorities have detained thousands of Palestinians from Gaza, many allegedly linked to Hamas. The UN reports that these detainees often face arbitrary, prolonged, and incommunicado detention, with numerous allegations of torture and mistreatment. Such practices contravene international human rights standards, raising serious concerns about detainee treatment and due process violations.

Now, onto South America: Argentina filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court against Venezuela on Thursday the 2nd, citing the detention of an Argentinian military officer. The officer was arrested while on a diplomatic mission in the country, sparking accusations of rights violations. Argentine officials criticized Venezuela’s actions as politically motivated and called for international intervention. The case highlights growing tensions between the two nations and concerns about Venezuela’s treatment of foreign diplomats.

Speaking of Venezuela, according to a report from Reuters released on Friday the 3rd, the country’s oil exports rose by 10.5% in twenty twenty-four, reaching their highest levels in five years despite ongoing political instability. The increase was driven by loosened U.S. sanctions and agreements with companies like Chevron, enabling greater production and shipments. This boost has provided vital revenue for the struggling nation, although experts note that deeper economic and political challenges remain unresolved.

Venezuela is experiencing significant instability due to a combination of economic challenges and political turmoil. The country has faced hyperinflation, leading to shortages of basic goods and services. Politically, disputed elections and allegations of authoritarianism have deepened internal conflicts.

In Asia, on Monday the 30th of December, the Philippine government announced it will need hundreds of millions of dollars to host the twenty twenty-six Association of SouthEast Asian States, or ASEAN Summit. Next year’s summit hds already been a point of contention, as Myanmar was scheduled to host it but was unable to due to its political turmoil regarding ethnic violence.

The budget would cover infrastructure, security, and event-related expenses, aiming to provide a smooth experience for leaders and delegates, although the country’s Congress approved less of the conference’s budget than what the President had asked for. Typically, most of the funding for these conferences comes exclusively from the host country. Officials highlighted the summit’s potential to boost the country’s international reputation and strengthen ties within the ASEAN region, stressing that the investment will help elevate the Philippines' role in regional diplomacy.

On Friday the 3rd, The United Nations reported that more than 3.5 million people have been displaced in Myanmar due to ongoing violence and conflict last year, a sharp increase of 1.5 million from twenty twenty-three. The figure includes both internal displacement and refugees fleeing to neighboring countries. The situation remains dire, with the humanitarian crisis worsening the country’s already fragile conditions. The UN called for increased global support to address the growing needs of displaced people and ensure their protection.

Onto general multilateral news, UNICEF reported on Sunday the 5th that more than 500 Afghan children were killed or injured in twenty twenty-four due to unexploded ordnances. The organization highlighted the dangers that remnants of war continue to pose to young people in Afghanistan, especially in rural areas. Despite efforts to clear these hazards, the report emphasized the ongoing risks and called for greater international support to protect children from such violence.

Also on Sunday the 5th, Egypt’s finance minister announced that the country would receive $1.2 billion US dollars as part of its ongoing agreement with the International Monetary Fund, or IMF. This financial aid is aimed at stabilizing Egypt’s economy amidst inflation and foreign currency shortages. The funds are part of a broader IMF program to support Egypt’s economic reforms and bolster the nation’s financial position amid external pressures.

And to close this edition, according to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization released on Friday the 3rd, the World Food Price Index experienced a decrease in December, primarily driven by falling sugar prices. The decline marks a shift after months of rising food costs. Sugar prices went down due to a larger-than-expected global harvest and stable supply chains.

Despite the drop, the prices of other food commodites, like wheat and vegetable oils, remained relatively stable, reflecting continued challenges in global food markets.

Aaand that’s it for this week! Thank you for joining us!

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Here’s to another year of keeping you on the loop with what's going down in the world's major multilateral institutions. Happy twenty twenty-five!

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