The World of International Organizations

Policy: Politics and Diplomacy

Among international organizations and treaties, politics reflects complex relationships among nations and cultures that affect diplomacy, including negotiations on everything from decisions about peace and security to financing for humanitarian crises to respect for human rights. These reflect a world more interconnected — and interdependent — than ever before.

China and U.S. spar over WHO probe

WHO and Chinese scientists visit veterinary labs in Wuhan (AN/CGTN)

February 14, 2021

Chinese diplomats pushed back against U.S. skepticism about whether Beijing fully cooperated with WHO scientists investigating the pandemic’s origins.

U.N. launches election procedure for next chief

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres marks the 40th anniversary of the Vienna International Center (AN/Dean Calma)

February 5, 2021

The U.N. began its process of re-electing or replacing Secretary-General António Guterres with a formal request for nations to propose any challengers.

U.N. envoy pans Syrian talks stalemate

U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen at a news conference (AN/U.N. Web TV)

January 29, 2021

Five days of discussions in Geneva ended with no progress. More Syria peace talks “can’t continue like this,” the U.N. special envoy to Syria told reporters.

Forum approves path to Libyan elections

Libyans at Tripoli's old city and Red Castle in February 2020 (AN/Ziad Fhema)

January 19, 2021

A U.N.-backed Libyan forum voted to authorize a new way of choosing a transitional government that will hold nationwide elections in late December.

Organizations alarmed at U.S. Capitol mob attack

The U.S. Capitol in Washington (AN/John Heilprin)

January 7, 2021

International organizations reacted with shock and sadness at the state of American democracy after pro-Trump insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol.

E.U. and China reach pact on business investment

European Council President Charles Michel at an E.U.-China leaders' video meeting (AN/E.U.)

December 30, 2020

The European Union moved to clinch a business investment deal with China despite concerns from the United States and human rights organizations.

U.K. and E.U. reach post-Brexit trade deal

An Italian-sculpted statue of King Richard I, one of the few non-British artworks at Parliament (AN/John Heilprin)

December 24, 2020

Britain reached a tentative free-trade deal to lessen the chaos of its departure from the European Union, the world’s biggest trading bloc.

Biden U.N. pick signals U.S. return to alliances

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, then U.S. assistant secretary of state for African affairs, visits Namibia in October 2016 (AN/U.S. Embassy Namibia)

November 23, 2020

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden’s selection of Linda Thomas-Greenfield to serve as ambassador to the U.N. signals America’s pivot back to multilateralism.

Libyan sides agree to 2021 nationwide elections

U.N.-brokered peace talks in Tunisia among Libya's warring sides (AN/UNSMIL)

November 13, 2020

Libya’s two main warring factions agreed to hold nationwide elections on December 24, 2021, the U.N. acting envoy for Libya said.

U.N. nuclear treaty ban to enter into force

An abandoned nuclear weapons depot in northern Germany (AN/Jan Bommes)

October 24, 2020

Fifty nations ratified a treaty to ban nuclear weapons that will enter into force in 90 days, the U.N. confirmed on the same day it was founded 75 years ago.