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PANAMA CITY, Panama, Jun 24, CMC – The chief executive officer in the Belize Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Oscar Arnold, Wednesday said multilateralism remains unquestioned, but recognition alone of this value is no longer sufficient in a changing global environment.
He said despite two centuries of progress, many of the fundamental challenges confronting countries within the Organization of American States (OAS) remain remarkably familiar.
Arnold told the delegates attending the 56th Regular Session of the OAS General Assembly that to say “that we gathered during a tumultuous moment in the global theatre would certainly be an understatement.
“We see it in the news, we hear it around us, we feel it in the worried voices of our people,” he said, adding “I cannot help but wonder how would Simon Bolivar react if he was sitting among us today”.
Arnold said he would not recount the many political, social, and security challenges currently confronting the international community, saying “they are evident to us all and have already been referenced by previous speakers”.
Instead, he would wish to focus on the enduring value of multilateralism in the defence of democracy, hemispheric security, and stability in member states, capturing “concisely the great shared preoccupation that our democracies, hemispheric security, and even stability in some states may be at risk.
“It also rightly identifies strong multilateralism as a bulwark against these threats. For small states, a robust, transparent, and rules-based international and multilateral system is an essential element for security, stability, and at times, the very existence of our states. “
Arnold said that in a world where disparities in size, economic weight, and geopolitical influence remain a reality, ”multilateral institutions provide all states, especially smaller states, with something invaluable, a voice, a seat at the table, and a framework through which international relations are governed by agreed rules rather than raw power.
“They help ensure that sovereignty is respected, that disputes are settled peacefully, and that the interests of all states, regardless of size, can be advanced through cooperation rather than confrontation”
He told delegates that in the inter-American space, this role has been entrusted to the OAS for almost 80 years and that while no multilateral institution is without its imperfections, the OAS has repeatedly demonstrated its value when member states allow it to function in accordance with the Charter, its mandates, and shared principles.
He said the OAS is a trusted platform for political dialogue, collective action, and peaceful dispute resolution, while serving as the guardian of shared norms and commitments that bind the hemisphere together.
The Belize diplomat said that as a regional cornerstone of multilateralism, the OAS must serve the needs of member states on the basis of Charter and international law, notwithstanding the swinging pendulum of ideological euphoria.
“Today, member states require the OAS to navigate the complex geopolitical minefield in this hemisphere.It is therefore important that we focus on the assets and tools we have on hand, despite the horizon of threats that keep our leaders awake at night.
“Now more than ever, we must prioritise collaboration over insignificant differences and strengthen our bastion of multilateralism, the OAS, in its capacity to respond to our needs with agility (and efficacy.”
He said Belize is grateful for the work and the role of the OAS as a “credible partner” accompanying both Belize and Guatemala on the journey to a peaceful and definitive settlement of Guatemala’s claim to Belizean territory via the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
He described it as the quintessential example of rules-based multilateralism, which is expected to deliver its judgement in the coming year.
“Furthermore, the OAS offers a platform for institutional challenge to enable several permanent observers to support Belize and Guatemala with resources for the operation of the OAS office in the adjacency zone.
“Belize, like many of us here, grapples with the evolving threats of transnational criminal organisations, including drug cartels in very close proximity of our borders. In response, we turn to the vaunted OAS to provide critical specialised training to our law enforcement agencies in areas ranging from combating money laundering to the tracking and marking of small firearms and munitions.”
Arnold said that the importance of strong multilateralism remains unquestioned, but recognition alone of this value is no longer sufficient.
“If we are to strengthen multilateralism for the future, we must focus on prevention, resilience, and opportunity. This requires a fresh examination of other critical pillars of the organisation’s work, particularly the pillar of development.
“Democracy, security and stability cannot be sustained without economic opportunity and sustainable growth. Citizens must feel tangible improvements in their lives if the democratic institutions are to maintain public confidence and legitimacy.”
Arnold said that for this reason, a renewed development agenda should prioritise initiatives that create enabling environments for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises to generate dignified and decent employment, promote innovation, address the impact of climate change, encourage fair competition, and expand hemispheric trade.
He said such efforts must move beyond policy decisions toward practical, measurable interventions that deliver concrete results for people.
Arnold said that the current multidimensional and evolving challenges facing the region in the multilateral space are daunting, “but as we engage in a rethinking exercise, we should pause and identify the opportunities in the existing challenges.
“While it may be true that despite the passage of almost eight decades, the essential purpose of the OAS still remains relevant, it is also true that the tools available to advance our mission, especially the rapid emergence of technologies such as artificial intelligence, open an entire galaxy of opportunities if responsibly adopted.
“Rethinking the functions of the OAS, particularly its development pillar, is crucial in today’s technological landscape. The economies of the future will be predominantly driven by emerging technologies, making it imperative to adopt the OAS’s function to align with these advancements and be a leader in the hemispheric adoption of technology.”
Arnold said that an OAS that “delivers better, more effective, and more directly to our people must be anchored in the realities and opportunities of today.
“We need to answer the question, where is the opportunity to fortify multilateralism and strengthen the OAS in the crises that we face? That answer will only be found if we seek it together.”
He recalled that the liberator Simon Bolivar famously said, “in the unity of our nations rests the glorious future of our peoples, and that phrase has greater relevance today than ever before.
“Today, I call on all our member states to commit to our multilateral institutions, to recognise the value they represent as essential conduits for cooperation to confront together the challenges that face all our nations.
“None of our nations can face these daunting obstacles alone. Only together can we achieve our strategic goals and make the difference for the future of our peoples,” he told delegates.
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