New Delhi: Annalena Baerbock, the President of the United Nations General Assembly (UN PGA) called for a “UN for Everyone” today in New Delhi, making it clear that the UN Charter is not optional, saying that “all 193 member states have to play by the same rules. They have to stick to the rules. And all the rules.”
As one of the youngest leaders in UN history to take up the important position of UN PGA, Annalena Baerbock has had to navigate unprecedented geopolitical tensions and increasing pressure on the UN led multilaterlal system, in face of U.S. President Donald Trump’s unmatched, wild unilateralism.
In New Delhi, she held wide-ranging talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, focussing on strengthening cooperation on shared global priorities and highlighted India’s role as an essential partner in advancing multilateral solutions.
The two sides discussed the West Asia conflict, much-awaited reform of the 80 year old UN and implications of artificial intelligence among other issues. Writing on social media, EAM Jaishankar said the meeting, “underscored the need for reformed multilateralism reflective of today’s realities, particularly of the Global South.”
After her meeting with Jaishankar, the UN PGA held a press conference at UN House in Delhi, where she stressed the UN’s centrality, saying there is a reason the United Nations is responsible for ensuring peace and security in the world, “because every country, no matter how big or small, how powerful or rich has a seat at the table at the United Nations.”
In response to a question regarding President Trump’s Board of Peace, which many have argued is designed to sideline or replace the UN, the UN PGA said, “You will not find just peace for anybody in the world if you have to pay the fee to join it.” Adding, “today, the United Nations, multilateralism, and international law are not only under pressure, but under direct attack,” pointing to increasing fragmentation and strain across the the three UN pillars of peace and security, development, and human rights.
The UN PGA also underscored the need for a more efficient and responsive United Nations, noting ongoing UN80 reform efforts to strengthen delivery at the country level and improve impact on people’s lives.
A UN Fit for the Future?
Reflecting on making the UN System fit for purpose, Annalena Baerbock pointed out how the United Nations currently has 40,000 active mandates around the world, which UN officers are responsible for. From Peacekeeping to aviation safety and vaccines for children, if there is a problem in the world, there is someone at the UN addressing it.
UN’s own data indicates that its 40,000 active mandates are serviced by roughly 400 intergovernmental bodies, require a staggering 27,000 meetings annually and generate roughly 2,300 pages of documentation every day, at an estimated annual cost of $360 million!
Stressing on the ongoing reforms at the organisation, she spoke about making the UN more digital, reducing physical documents, reforming different UN agencies and merging them where needed, in an effort to reduce duplication. She advocated for setting ‘sunset clauses’ on missions so that they do not continue endlessly and reduce administration and oversight costs in UNHQ New York and UN Geneva.
Remarking on how the UN is dealing with the unprecedented challenges of the Trump Presidency 2.0, the UN PGA remarked that “it was always challenging. There has never been a decade that wasn’t challenging for the UN.”
The question however still remains, how does the UN preserve and implement its principal mandate of maintaining international peace and security in the 21st century? How does it uphold its core mandate?
And the answer perhaps lies in the very UN System itself.
Better Together
UN Chief, Antonio Guterres has frequently publicly said that “the UN has no power. And no money. But what it has is the capacity to convene.” To bring the world together on a single platform.
And it is this convening power of the UN that makes the organisation unique and indespensible.
Annalena Baerbock too, focussed on this aspect, referring to the UN as a “House of Peace” stating that “every country has a seat at the table here and the UN offers a neutral and objective venue for member states.
She underlined that “Peace is not easy” and that the UN will always strive to build a better world, signalling that while the UN System is currenlty shaken, it is not going to sink anytime soon.
UNSG Elections
In response to questions on the election of a new UN Secretary-General, who will replace Antonio Guetteres as Chief of the UN on 1 January 2027, she informed the press that there are currently 4 candidates in nomination:
- Chile’s Michelle Bachelet
- Argentina’s Rafael Grossi
- Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan
- Senegal’s Macky Sall
Talking about the election process, she said after the 4 candidates participated in the public interactive dialogues at UN Headquarters last week, now the UN Security Council, UN’s apex decision making body, will have a special role to play and there will also be Open Town Hall meetings held in the future.
The UN PGA herself, strongly batted for a female UN Secretary-General, quipping “after 80 years, why can’t we find a woman to lead the UN from amongst 4 billion candidates?”
UNSC Reforms and India
When asked about reform of the UN Security Council, which has found itself paralysed in recent decades, due to its 1945 style make-up and the “veto power” wielded by the P5 members (Russia, U.S., UK, France, China) all victors of World War II, the UN PGA said that, “UNSC Reforms are a 17 year old debate.”
Different proposals for UNSC reforms are on the table, including one from India.
She lauded India’s deep commitment to the United Nations and appreciated India’s role in shaping global AI conversations, highlighting the India AI Impact Summit, which was held in New Delhi in February 2026.
The UN PGA brought attention to the misuse of AI, particularly against women and their dignity, stressing that “we must find regulation that serves the people.”
Annalena Baerbock, the UN PGA was visiting India as part of her broader visit to Asia.
She also met with senior government officials, representatives of India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and the UN Country Team in India, as well as representatives of the UN Country Team in Bhutan.
She will now be visiting China from 29 to 30 April.
Annalena Baerbock is a former German Foreign Minister.
