MOSCOW, June 24. /TASS/. International organizations led by the United Nations are losing relevance, as is the broader system of international affairs, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at the 12th Primakov Readings international scientific and expert forum.
According to him, nuclear deterrence alone can save the world from a global war.
TASS has compiled key statements from the Russian presidential spokesman.
On international affairs
UN-led international institutions and the entire system of international relations have been devalued, Peskov argued: "It is evident that the current world order is either, some say, collapsing or, others say, undergoing radical changes. But it is even more evident that the entire system of international relations is being devalued, as are international organizations led by the United Nations and the UN Security Council. The UN and its Security Council are losing their ability to solve topical issues."
The supporters of "peace through strength" and hegemonism prefer not to notice global changes, choosing to leave everything as it is, something that cannot be ignored, Peskov continued: "There are those who believe that nothing changes [in the world]. They have a reasoned position. They think that based on 'peace through strength’, rule instead of law, and hegemony instead of pluralism, they can say: ‘I’m your boss today’, and leave things as they are. And this is a powerful position since it is being articulated by the world’s most powerful economy. We cannot turn a blind eye to it."
The situation around international affairs is so dire that UN member countries have been unable to coordinate a reform at its Security Council, Peskov noted: "We are even unable to coordinate and, to put it bluntly, we have not been able to coordinate a reform of the UN Security Council."
On security
Global security is now deteriorating, with nuclear deterrence remaining the only safeguard against a global war, Peskov emphasized: "Now it (global security -- TASS) is eroding judging from multiple parameters. In fact, we have nothing else in the world apart from nuclear deterrence. It is the only thing shielding the world from a global war."
However, nuclear deterrence "does not prevent regional conflicts, the potential of which, unfortunately, is on the rise," he lamented.
The world no longer has leverage to reach agreements on global security, the Kremlin spokesman noted: "We no longer have any leverage to coordinate solutions in this sphere," he emphasized.
Meanwhile, new non-nuclear weapons that are potentially comparable in destructive capacity to nuclear arms will soon appear in the world, Peskov warned: "It is now obvious that new types of weapons that are non-nuclear but could potentially have the destructive power of nuclear weapons will appear."
Nuclear deterrence works, serving as a cornerstone of international security, Peskov stated: "Nuclear deterrence works. We in Russia understand that clearly, and at present it serves as a cornerstone of global security."
On USD role, Western economies
The trend toward a declining share of the dollar as a global reserve currency is becoming increasingly evident, Peskov maintained: "We can see that the share of the main reserve currency in international settlements remains high, but there is a clear trend toward its decline. This decline is taking place not because countries choose to abandon it [the dollar], but because the issuer is attempting to impose its own rules. Other countries simply resent that,"
Understanding exactly where in the transformation process the world currently is is key, the Russian presidential spokesman continued: "Is this the initial stage of transformation, or a complete chaos already? In other words, are we in a state of complete chaos across all dimensions? Or has the transformation already entered a new phase where the outlines of an understandable future world order have started to emerge? It seems to me that making forecasts without this definition is very difficult, and indeed impossible."
According to Peskov, all economic indicators across the collective West point to a tendency toward stagnation in the coming years compared to the Global South: "The collective West <…>: its economic growth rates lag behind those of the Global South. The demographic situation is in a worse condition than that in the Global South. And all indicators of economic development are tending, at best, toward stagnation, at least over the next decade."
Europe’s identity in defense
Europe’s identity in defense, free from any US influence, will be underpinned by hostility toward Russia, Peskov predicted: "These hostile relations will fuel inner push for this identity."
On relations with India
Russia and India share a notably privileged partnership, according to Peskov: "India is the world’s most populous country, one of the fastest-growing economies, and a nation brimming with potential across all sectors. Our relationship is further reinforced by our joint participation in various international organizations. We highly value this partnership and are dedicated to enhancing our cooperation and exploring new horizons together.".