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Nato-Chef Mark Rutte zeigt sich in Den Haag ungewohnt hart in seiner Rhetorik. Er spricht von einer «stärkeren und tödlicheren Nato» und sorgt damit für Aufsehen. Zwei Experten erklären, wie dieser «Kurswechsel» einzuordnen ist.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres addresses the debate at the UN on the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine. The debate marked the 20th anniversary of its adoption at the 2005 World Summit. Credit: Jennifer Xin-Tsu Lin Levine

By Jennifer Xin-Tsu Lin Levine
UNITED NATIONS, Jun 26 2025 (IPS)

United Nations member states this week reiterated their commitment to the prevention of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity—at a time when world powers are failing to meet these obligations.

On the 20th anniversary of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine, the UN held a Plenary Meeting to discuss the landmark commitment to the doctrine. Although many speakers praised the policy’s work on prevention capacity, members largely criticized the inconsistency and hypocrisy of states that have failed to adhere to the doctrine’s guidelines.

The representative from Slovenia criticized the Security Council permanent members’ veto power on issues addressing genocide and human rights violations, arguing that the veto slows the quick response needed for such issues when people’s dignity is threatened. She further suggested that there should be no veto power from Permanent Members in cases where R2P is involved.

This statement, although not explicitly, calls out the United States and the Russian Federation, the two Permanent Member states who have exercised their veto power in the past year—for the US, in regard to the Middle East and Palestine specifically, and for Russia, in regard to Sudan and South Sudan.

This critique is not new; the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency (ACT) coalition of small and medium-sized states proposed a “Code of Conduct regarding Security Council action against genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes,” which, according to the R2P website, “calls upon all members of the Security Council (both permanent and elected) to not vote against any credible draft resolution intended to prevent or halt mass atrocities.” As of 2022, 121 member states and two observers have signed.

By reframing the protection of civilians from mass atrocities as a governmental duty and responsibility, R2P was created after inadequate responses to genocide in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia.

Although the initiative has been successful for mediating in regions like The Gambia and Kenya, as Secretary-General António Guterres noted in his report entitled “Responsibility to Protect: 20 years of commitment to principled and collective action,” R2P has failed to push the UN towards action in places like Syria or Myanmar, where veto deadlock prevented aid or policy change.

Another hindrance to R2P’s efficacy, as both Slovenia and a representative from Australia noted, is what the latter referred to as general impunity and lack of accountability for many states.

Criticizing sanctions and dismissal of international court rulings such as the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ), this statement may have been in response to US sanctions towards four ICC judges after the court opened investigations concerning both the US and Israel’s military actions.

Neither nation recognizes the ICC’s authority, making them not subject to ICC rulings.

In a statement from the White House, President Donald Trump said, “The United States will impose tangible and significant consequences on those responsible for the ICC’s transgressions, some of which may include the blocking of property and assets, as well as the suspension of entry into the United States of ICC officials, employees, and agents, as well as their immediate family members, as their entry into our Nation would be detrimental to the interests of the United States.”

Multiple representatives reaffirmed their respect for impartial judicial rulings and international courts and tribunals in the General Assembly meeting despite verbal and economic pushback from some of the most influential member states.

The R2P’s most glaring inconsistency between principle and implementation lies in the conflict in Gaza. The representative from Indonesia highlighted the genocide against Palestine as “the R2P’s most urgent test,” urging member states to revive the sanctity of international law and restore trust in the UN’s ability to enforce their policy. As trust in the UN has waned, many feel a growing pressure to re-legitimize the institution through their actions, particularly regarding crimes against humanity.

As one representative noted, “History will judge us all.”

IPS UN Bureau Report

 

A helyi árvízvédelmi hatóságok közleménye szerint már legkevesebb mint hat halálos áldozata van a délnyugat-kínai Kujcsou tartományt sújtó árvizeknek – jelentette a kínai állami média.

The complaints follow a recent EU fact-finding mission and include allegations of irregularities across nearly all Slovak districts.

Immer wieder werden Kunstwerke in Italien durch Touristen beschädigt. Der jüngste Vorfall: Ein Besucher der Uffizien in Florenz lehnte sich für ein Foto an das Porträt «Ferdinando de' Medici, Grossprinz von Toskana» – bis die Leinwand nachgab.

Im Rahmen einer koordinierten Suchaktion im Gebiet Tennmatten in Blatten VS konnten am Dienstag menschliche Überreste gefunden und geborgen werden. Nun ist klar: Es ist der vermisste Schafhirte Toni.

Europe should embrace the new defence spending pledges. If nothing else, the continent will have the chance to reclaim its dignity.

Khaman Maluach only took up basketball aged 13, but the refugee from South Sudan has been drafted to join NBA side Phoenix Suns.

Khaman Maluach only took up basketball aged 14, but the refugee from South Sudan has been drafted to join NBA side Phoenix Suns.

Több kisgyermeket gázolt el autójával egy kínai férfi csütörtökön Peking külvárosának egyik általános iskolája mellett - közölték a hatóságok és a kínai állami média.

Written by Tim Peters and Jakub Przetacznik with Ana Luisa Melo Almeida.

In response to Russia’s full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine, which started in February 2022, the European Union (EU) and its Member States have provided unprecedented financial, military and humanitarian support to Ukraine. According to European Commission figures, Team Europe, consisting of the EU and its Member States, has made available around €150 billion in support to Ukraine. This support encompasses macro-financial assistance, financial support through the Ukraine Facility, humanitarian aid and military assistance from Member States and the European Peace Facility, as well as support to Ukrainian refugees in the EU.

The overall support of Team Europe for Ukraine is now greater than the support provided by the United States (US), except in terms of military support allocation. However, Team Europe has provided 83 % of the tanks and 76 % of the air defence systems given to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale war.

The disbursement of EU payments under the Ukraine Facility is conditional on Ukraine implementing the Ukraine Plan – an ambitious reform and investment plan drafted by Ukraine’s government and endorsed by the EU. The Commission and the Ukrainian government publish updates on the progress of the reforms and on the disbursal of payments.

In addition to the Ukraine Facility, the G7 have agreed upon a further €45 billion loan, with €18.1 billion to be financed by the EU. For this purpose, a Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism has been established, which uses extraordinary revenues originating from Russian sovereign assets immobilised in the G7 member states to repay loans and associated interest costs. The rights, responsibilities and obligations provided for under the Ukraine Facility will apply to the G7 loan to ensure seamless management of both. The European Parliament has repeatedly called for confiscating the immobilised Russian sovereign assets to finance further support for Ukraine and the country’s reconstruction, instead of just relying on extraordinary revenues. International financial institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund, play a key role in addressing external financing needs and supporting the country’s macroeconomic stability.

Read the complete briefing on ‘State of Play: EU support to Ukraine‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.

EU Member States’ total bilateral and EU budget contributions to Ukraine, 2022–2025, in € billion and as a % of GNI Team Europe financial, humanitarian and military support for Ukraine, February 2022 to May 2025, in € billion

Die Schweizer Meistertitel im Zeitfahren gehen 2025 an Marlen Reusser und Mauro Schmid.

Diese Frage hören Pendler regelmässig: «Welche Strecke fahren Sie?». SBB-Kundenbegleiter messen so, wie viele Leute auf welchen Zugstrecken unterwegs sind. Aber es geht dabei auch um Millionen in Ticket-Einnahmen.

Die grösste Genossenschaft des Konzerns kriselt. Ihr Chef Patrik Pörtig muss sie wieder auf Kurs bringen – doch die Altlasten wiegen schwer.

Kurz vor dem Spielberg-GP rückt Sebastian Vettel wieder ins Rampenlicht. Um den vierfachen Formel-1-Weltmeister, der sich 2022 vom Rennzirkus verabschiedete, halten sich hartnäckig Comeback-Gerüchte.

In den letzten Monaten sorgten mehrere Fälle von Schiffbrüchigen für Schlagzeilen. Jüngster Fall: Eine Britin trieb fünf Tage auf See – ohne ausreichend Wasser und Sonnenschutz. Nur durch einen Zufall konnte sie gerettet werden.

Baleset miatt lezárták a Kassáról Eperjesre vezető autópályát, egy kamion ütközött egy útkarbantartó kocsival.

Während es in der Schweiz am Donnerstag etwas abkühlt, klettern die Temperaturen im Mittelmeerraum auf immer extremere Werte. In Spanien könnte mit 47 Grad demnächst der Hitzerekord gebrochen werden. Blick zeigt, wo der Hitzehammer besonders zuschlägt.

At least 10 people died in the protests and 400 others injured, including 300 police officers, minister says.

At least 10 people died in the protests and 400 others injured, including 300 police officers, minister says.