Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has strongly criticized what he sees as a world order imposed by the United States, in a recent statement. According to Lavrov, Washington demands respect for rules that no one can really identify, as they are not based on any binding international treaty.
Lavrov denounces an approach he describes as unilateral and selective. He accuses the United States of exploiting human rights according to its interests, highlighting them when it suits them and ignoring them when they become inconvenient. He specifically mentioned Washington's silence regarding the actions of some of its allies, an implicit criticism aimed at Israel and other strategic partners in the Middle East.
This criticism comes in a context of increased tensions between Russia and the West. By challenging the legal legitimacy of the American order, Moscow justifies its own defiance towards international institutions, which it perceives as being under Washington's influence.
Lavrov's approach is part of a communication strategy aimed at denouncing what Russia considers Western hypocrisy. More broadly, it reflects a geopolitical trend where more and more countries are questioning a world order they consider unequal. The idea of a multipolar world, where different powers could define their own rules, is gaining ground.
The question of what to base a stable world order on if the rules are perceived as arbitrary and changing remains open. This question highlights the challenges facing multilateralism in a changing world.
