Mr. President,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the fourteen (14) Member States of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). CARICOM thanks the Chinese Presidency for convening this important and timely debate and offers the following perspectives.

First, CARICOM remains a firm believer in multilateralism and in the United Nations as the epicenter of the multilateral system. The vision for the United Nations to be the vehicle through which nations would practice peaceful co-existence, friendly cooperation, dialogue and diplomacy is a vision that CARICOM still shares with many other Member States. We therefore urge a collective recommitment to this vision and a collective disavowal of all actions that mitigate against it. These include measures inimical to the growth of small states’ economies.

Second, the Charter of the United Nations is the blueprint for world peace. If faithfully implemented, the generations to come will never know war and will thrive in peace and progress. Unfortunately, there is a growing proclivity to disregard international law, including the UN Charter, thus undermining prospects for world peace. An examination of most conflict situations today reveals this. Human rights atrocities, humanitarian crises, aggression, and violations of state sovereignty and the principle of sovereign equality are some of the manifestations of this disregard for international law and the Charter. The Security Council has a critical role to play in response to these illegalities which are threats to international peace and security. Further, CARICOM stresses that any situation that threatens international peace and security is also a threat to development since development cannot be sustained in insecurity. We therefore urge the Council to intensify its efforts to address all threats to global peace, including new and emerging threats such as climate change and artificial intelligence.

Third, we must not normalize sidelining the United Nations in favour of unsustainable unilateral initiatives. This undermines the centrality of the Organization in international affairs and reduces its influence. The Security Council itself must ensure that it does not unwittingly contribute to such endeavors. This approach also effectively shuts out the voice of the majority of Member States in shaping responses to global crises. CARICOM urges that we eschew this approach and recommit to upholding the United Nations as the center of the international system. As small states, consistent application of international law and the UN Charter is the bedrock for our security and survival.

Mr. President,

Allow me to conclude by underscoring CARICOM’s firm commitment to the purposes and principles of the United Nations as contained in the Charter, to a rules-based international system and to multilateralism as the foundation for world peace.

I thank you.