Yesterday, The former UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson was interviewed by Einar Ottosson and Gabe Wielinga at Room for Discussion. Various topics were discussed including enforcement of human rights, Africa in the UN, the future of the EU, and the current situation in the US. Jan Eliasson served as the UN Deputy Secretary-General from 2012 to 2016. His diplomatic career, which began in 1965, is vast — he has mediated six major conflicts and held six different government positions as an ambassador and leader.
Early in the discussion, Eliasson addressed the structure of the UN and the veto powers of the G7. He highlighted a crucial lesson from the League of Nations: if major world powers do not have some degree of authority in the UN, they will simply choose not to participate. This is a difficult topic, as we now see that such privileges are abused, and Eliasson mentioned that although many want to restrict, or even take away veto powers in the UN, doing so would mean losing the voice of some of the world’s most influential nations. Getting around this issue is difficult but solvable with greater cohesion.
Eliasson was particularly concerned with the underrepresentation of Africa and India in the Security Council. Africa, rich in natural resources, and India with its enormous population, both play a significant role in international policy and trade. Both have almost no representation, putting them at a massive disadvantage, making the UN weaker and less respected. He believes it is important that both parties are given a seat at the table and a louder voice in decision-making.
In the interview's second half, the questions moved towards the EU and its relationship with the US. Eliasson showed support for a stronger EU, a position he had previously opposed. While he does not consider himself a federalist, he believes the EU must form stronger bonds and establish a European Defense Force. This was in response to the possibility of the US leaving NATO, a decision that would severely weaken European defense capabilities. Eliasson supported his argument by pointing out Trump’s unpredictability, forcing the EU to recognize that it can no longer rely on external forces. This is a major point of conversation in the EU now and may lead to positive changes in the long run.
Eliasson has long considered himself an optimist, but now calls himself a "Pessimist who hasn't given up." This change in rhetoric from such an influential figure in international politics has raised many eyebrows and makes us wary of the future.
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