Venezuela, Gaza, Ukraine: Is the UN failing?

The uncomfortable truth is we have only one real choice at present: A deeply flawed global institution, or none at all.

The United Nations turned 80 in October last year; a venerable age for the most significant international organisation the world has ever seen. But events of recent years—from last weekend’s Trumpian military action to seize Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine in 2022, to the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza—represent major challenges to the UN system.