FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro called on the international community to resolve ongoing global disputes through diplomacy and international law rather than force, warning that mounting geopolitical competition threatens global stability and multilateral institutions.
Delivering her address at the 81st United Nations General Assembly at the UN Headquarters in New York, Lazaro highlighted that more than 50 active conflicts worldwide are straining the global economy.
The Philippines’ chief diplomat aslso noted that continued maritime disruptions in the Middle East risk triggering energy emergencies in developing nations like the Philippines, while the war in Ukraine worsens global food insecurity.
“When more than 645 million people face hunger, when our climate remains in a state of calamity, and when our collective conscience is stained by humanitarian catastrophes, reflection must give way to urgent, united resolve,” Lazaro stated, emphasizing that peace is a shared global responsibility.
Addressing the situation in Gaza, Lazaro reiterated Manila’s call for an immediate ceasefire, civilian protection, and the release of hostages, reaffirming support for a two-state solution as the only viable path to lasting peace.
The speech comes alongside news from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirming that Philippine delegates joined a walkout during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address earlier in the week, protesting Israel’s E1 settlement plans and ongoing humanitarian concerns in Gaza.
Lazaro extended the principle of international law to maritime disputes, identifying the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award as crucial frameworks for resolving territorial differences peacefully.
In closing her address, the Foreign Secretary advocated for UN Security Council reforms to enhance representation and effectiveness.
She urged world leaders to ensure international agreements remain centered on protecting human lives and bridging global divides.