BRUSSELS, Sept 25 – The head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, expressed regret over the depletion of global rules and the growing search for alternatives to the West by developing countries during the UN General Assembly in New York. In his latest blog post reflecting on his visit to New York, Borrell noted that as the world becomes increasingly multipolar, the natural response should be to strengthen the rules of the game. However, he observed the opposite trend, with the existing rules governing the world reaching their limits.
Borrell highlighted the increasing demand for sovereignty and identity in developing countries, stating that in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia, there is a belief in the existence of reliable alternatives to the West, not only in economic terms but also in technology, military, and ideological aspects. He attributed the changes and the search for alternative players in these regions to the fact that these new players do not question who is in prison or where the money is going. Many regimes find this appealing, according to the diplomat.
Borrell expressed his dissatisfaction with the insufficient condemnation of the conflict in Ukraine by the Global South and the perception of some “distant from the EU” countries that it is not a serious problem. He lamented their reluctance to allow Ukraine to dominate the global agenda. Furthermore, he criticized the view held by countries in the Global South that Western “values” are remnants of Western dominance and their shift towards Russia and China, who challenge the universal nature of these values.
While acknowledging that the West itself does not always adhere to the rules it seeks to protect, Borrell warned that the current multipolarity leads to a lack of international consensus on almost all issues. He expressed concern about the possibility of Russia and China imposing their own standards on the internet, potentially dividing the cyber world. In conclusion, the chief European diplomat expressed confidence that the absence of rules and the inability of dominant players to negotiate on global issues will lead to a fragmentation of the world order into competing blocs in the areas of security, technology, and economic integration. He called for action to prevent this scenario.
In October of last year, Borrell stirred controversy by referring to Europe as a “privileged” garden surrounded by “jungles” that could encroach upon the well-established European mechanism. These remarks garnered mixed reactions within the European and international community, prompting the EU’s foreign service and Europe’s top diplomat himself to offer explanations. Borrell claimed that his statement was taken out of context and misunderstood.
