JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola on Friday reiterated his country's commitment to a rules-based international order grounded in international law and multilateralism, with the United Nations (UN) at its center.
Delivering a keynote address on the 2026 Foreign Policy Outlook in Rustenburg, North West Province, Lamola said the doctrine of "might is right" must not be allowed to prevail, and that the rule of law remains fundamental to global stability, legitimacy, and governance.
"The unilateral military strikes carried out by the United States of America against Venezuela and the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro and his spouse from Venezuelan territory threaten to reduce the UN Charter to ashes and to turn multilateralism into a shrine," Lamola said.
He emphasized that this moment of geopolitical strife will determine whether the UN delivers on its promise or whether the world returns to an age of wars, fragmentation, and racial hierarchy.
"We pledged to refrain from force, understanding that to violate the territorial integrity of one is to violate the peace and stability of all," Lamola added. ■