CIRSD President Vuk Jeremić and former German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock shared the stage for a prominent fireside conversation at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) in New York, exploring the future of multilateralism, the challenges confronting the United Nations, and the ongoing race to elect its next Secretary-General.
Titled “Future of Multilateralism,” the discussion brought together two former foreign ministers and Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly for a thought-provoking exchange on the shifting global order, deepening geopolitical divisions, and the future of international institutions.
A key focus of the conversation was the ongoing election process for the next UN Secretary-General. Jeremić drew parallels with his own experience as a candidate in the 2016 race, in which he finished second behind António Guterres, reflecting on the political dynamics surrounding the selection of the UN’s top official.
The conversation also explored the challenges facing multilateral institutions amid intensifying geopolitical competition and increasing fragmentation of the international system, including the ability of the United Nations to remain relevant and effective in addressing global
