Beate Meinl-Reisinger calls for rule-based order at UN

During the 81st UN General Assembly in New York, Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger advocated for international law and a rule-based global order. She noted that while the United Nations often falls short of expectations, this is not due to institutional failure but rather because member states have allowed the organization to stagnate.

Meinl-Reisinger emphasized the need to restore trust in the world order, which she stated is being undermined by a dangerous zero-sum mentality. She highlighted that power must be limited by mutually agreed-upon rules, citing the Russian invasion of Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean as tests to the current system.

As Austria prepares for its term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2027/28, the Foreign Minister pledged that the nation will work to protect these shared rules. She warned that the consequences of institutional inaction are felt by families in conflict zones who rely on the UN for food, medical aid, and protection.