IRC chief says world is witnessing 'global disorder' amid escalating conflicts and lack of accountability

David Miliband, president of the International Rescue Committee and former UK foreign secretary, has warned that the world is experiencing a "time of more shocks and fewer shock absorbers" due to escalating conflicts and a lack of accountability. In an interview with The National's Editor-in-Chief Mina Al-Oraibi, Miliband highlighted that there are currently 65 conflicts taking place worldwide, a number that he considers extraordinary.

The former UK foreign secretary argued that powerful countries are setting a concerning precedent by disregarding the rules established after World War II, which protect the territorial integrity of states and the sanctity of individual life. Miliband emphasized that these rules were not just Western principles, but global ones that protected everyone, not just some.

He expressed deep concern that some Western countries are failing to defend these rules, while others are not recognizing the danger of repeating history's mistakes. One such conflict that has had significant repercussions is the Iran war, which began on February 28 with joint attacks by the US and Israel against Iran. Iran subsequently retaliated by targeting regional neighbors and closing the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that contributes to about 20% of global oil and gas flows.

The ongoing conflict has caused a global energy crisis and has also strained transatlantic relations, Miliband believes. He pointed out that the negotiations aimed at ending the fighting may not even restore the status quo ante, let alone resolve the initial issues that sparked the war in February. According to Miliband, resolving the situation will be a long-term endeavor rather than a short-term fix.