UN General Assembly
2025

The rules-based system is what protects us from bullying and from rogue behavior. Our Charter was designed to promote compassion, equality, fairness and this is why it is imperative that we maintain a rules-based system. I speak as a leader of a small country. Our future is placed at risk unless we preserve this rules-based system. The law of the jungle does not guarantee any of us a future on a livable or indeed doesn't guarantee us a livable planet. We have simply to step up to the plate and unlike the West Indian Federation when one country left and the mass of the day was one from ten leaves zero, we must remember that if there are those who don't want to be inside at the dance that one or two or three from a hundred and ninety three does not leave zero. Does not leave zero. Those of us who remain can continue to pursue our vital interests and we don't criticize countries for making sovereign decisions because that's what governments were elected to do.