'Multilateralism under attack': Ramaphosa sounds alarm over worsening state of geopolitcs

JOHANNESBURG - President Cyril Ramaphosa has sounded the alarm over the worsening state of geopolitics, saying that "multilateralism is under attack".

Ramaphosa said that multilateral institutions like the United Nations (UN) needed to be strengthened and reformed.

The president was speaking at the Union Buildings on Friday, where he hosted Austrian head of state, Alexander van der Bellen.

While South Africa and Austria are currently not involved in any conflicts, both nations have suffered residual effects of the wars currently taking place across the world.

The president said that this state visit came at a time of heightened global insecurity, including the climate emergency.

"These events reinforce the need for strengthening the multilateral system which we see under attack and it is countries such as Austria and South Africa who firmly believe in a multilateral system who can defend it."

Austria said it shared South Africa’s values of multilateralism, respect for international law and peace through disarmament.