NEW YORK, Sept 24: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the international system is “not in good shape” and lacks the ability to effectively address major global conflicts, including tensions between India and Pakistan.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Rubio said there was growing recognition among world leaders that existing multilateral mechanisms were struggling to respond to major crises.
“I think the international system is not in good shape right now,” Rubio said, while noting that international norms ultimately operate within the limits of individual countries’ national interests.
Rubio said the United Nations had “tremendous potential” but was not fulfilling it effectively. He argued that the organisation had expanded into areas beyond what he described as its intended mandate.
“It’s unable to solve virtually any major conflict in the world,” he said, pointing to several ongoing disputes and humanitarian crises as evidence of the limitations of current international institutions.
Referring to India and Pakistan, Rubio said a functioning global system should be capable of addressing situations involving potential conflict between the two countries. He also mentioned the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia, the situation involving the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, Sudan, and tensions involving Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.
“Right now, we don’t seem to have a functional international system that can address it,” Rubio said.
His remarks came during a UN General Assembly session marked by discussions over wars, geopolitical tensions and the effectiveness of international institutions in preventing or resolving conflicts.
Rubio stressed that when multilateral mechanisms prove ineffective, countries are likely to place greater emphasis on their individual national priorities. He said the United States under President Donald Trump would continue to make American interests the central consideration of its foreign policy.
“I want to be clear because this is not an attack on the international system,” Rubio said. “At the end of the day, the United States will always act at least as long as President Trump is in office we will always act in the national interest of our country, not in the interest of the international order.”
He added that Washington would not place the international order above US interests, while maintaining that international institutions still have an important role when they remain focused on their core responsibilities.
Rubio did not announce any new US initiative concerning India-Pakistan relations. Instead, he cited the South Asian neighbours as one example of a wider problem he believes reflects the limitations of the current international framework.
The Secretary of State also referred to conflicts and crises involving Ukraine, Sudan, Yemen and the Middle East while discussing the challenges confronting international diplomacy.
Addressing Iran, Rubio reiterated that the US position was that Tehran must never acquire a nuclear weapon, while saying Washington remained open to a negotiated settlement. He also said the United States would continue efforts to protect shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and maintain pressure on Iran.
On the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Rubio said Washington remained willing to pursue limited ceasefire arrangements involving energy and grain. However, he stressed that such measures would not by themselves bring the war to an end.
“Ultimately, we all want this war to end,” Rubio said, adding that a lasting settlement would require negotiations rather than a battlefield resolution.
Rubio’s comments placed India-Pakistan tensions within his broader assessment of the challenges facing multilateral diplomacy. His remarks also reflected the Trump administration’s stated emphasis on pursuing US national interests while continuing to engage with international institutions.