South African Communist Party

SACP reflections on the 80^th session of the United Nations General Assembly

Wednesday, 1 October 2025: - The South African Communist Party (SACP) has observed the 80^th session of the United Nations General Assembly, which convened at its headquarters in New York City, USA.

On multilateralism

The United Nations remains a pivotal platform for multilateralism, particularly serving as a space for nations from the global south to shape the international political system in accordance with their own developmental objectives. However, despite this significant potential, the United Nations’ organisational framework, in practice, remains constrained by neocolonial institutional structures, replicating the outcomes akin to the political machinations of the colonial era. This is evident in its security structures and its trade relations regulation framework. Consequently, as underscored by several African representatives, the key reforms necessary to position the African continent as a key player in decision-making are not only urgent but also crucial to the legitimacy of the United Nations itself.

Parallel to that, the SACP has noted the disregard and contempt expressed by the United States resident, Donald Trump, towards the United Nations during the assembly, reflecting the American government’s stance against multilateralism in general and its preference for unilateral action. This Trump administration position is also evident in the American tariff policy, the withdrawal of financial support to United Nations agencies, and other decisions that weaken the system of the United Nations.

The SACP supports multilateralism and rejects any attempt by any actor, including Washington, to undermine or diminish the United Nations and its role in international affairs, even while simultaneously advocating for its reform.

On Palestine

The UN General Assembly witnessed a surge of solidarity towards Palestine from various countries that expressed their support for the Palestinian people by formally endorsing the establishment of a Palestinian State as a full legal entity under international law, granting it equal sovereign, political, economic, and diplomatic rights. A notable section of these countries are Western countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Italy, Australia and France, among others, indicating the unquestionable legitimacy of the demand for a sovereign and independent Palestine. This shift in policy is a profound and historic one which should not go unacknowledged. However, this progress is contrasted with an even more rigid and hostile attitude of the United States and apartheid Israel that have vowed to continue to prevent the recognition of the Palestinian state. The fundamental stance of both the United States and Israel is rooted in the persistent denial of the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Furthermore, they have intensified their military offensive, which includes the annexation of the West Bank, thereby hindering the realisation of the two-state solution. The SACP condemns this posture of Israel and the United States on this question as this posture only serves to guarantee the continuation of ethnic cleansing of Palestinian people in Gaza, the greatest human tragedy of our time.

War in Ukraine

The UN General Assembly also witnessed the United States’ stance on the war in Ukraine. The fundamental United States regime’s stance on the conflict is one of escalation and destruction, accompanied by an explicit commitment to providing unlimited military aid and support to Ukraine with the explicit objective of achieving Russia’s complete annihilation. This posture does not seek a political resolution to the military conflict but seeks a more extreme position of deliberate escalation, which is incompatible with the UN objectives of peace, stability, and progress. NATO is thus emboldened by the United States president’s stance to play a more destructive role in the conflict, thereby postponing the day of peace and stability.

This new strategy between the United States and NATO is a grave concern for us, as it primarily serves to fuel the military industrial complex in the United States as a constant provider of arms rather than determining a sound political solution for the situation in Ukraine.

On state of imperialism

The global system of imperialism encounters internal contradictions and challenges that have resulted in a state of strategic discord. The unipolar world we have known faces objective fundamental limitations. From these limitations, conditions for a multipolar world have already emerged and are now poised to manifest. The counter balance of western hegemony by the existence and expansion of BRICS and other forms of regional cooperation among the global south places western imperialist domination as unsustainable in the present historical context.

The United States’ aggression against Venezuela signifies the latest desperate attempt by the United States regime to maintain its regional influence and derive economic benefits through violent means in a world which is increasingly unsuited to such methods as a result of the proliferation of other geopolitical options rather than the United States. Our solidarity with the Caribbean nations is in harmony with our broader solidarity with the global south. Our unwavering support for Cuba is the cornerstone of our South American international programme.

On Israel speech at General Assembly

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Zionist prime minister of apartheid Israel, expressed the standard ahistorical Israeli theories of genocide denial that have now become the very identity of the settler state of Israel. The speech of the Israeli prime minister reflects a belligerent Israel state that is intent on intensifying its genocidal war on the people of Palestine, one that is prepared to adopt the most inhumane tactics to take forward its ethnic cleansing campaign. The standard framework of Israel to claim the repeatedly refuted so called “imminent nuclear attack” against it was used as a ploy to justify the attacks on Iran. The weaponisation of antisemitism to create victim status for Israel and to create guilt for those who dare criticise Israeli genocidal actions was employed as a tool to excuse Israel from accountability for its continued atrocities.

The characterising of Palestinian resistance as unprovoked violence is another aspect of the standard Israeli propaganda script. This stance of the Netanyahu regime also clearly demonstrates a rejection of the two-state solution by the Israeli government and its ruling classes. This alignment of the Israel-USA political axis effectively hinders progress for those who actively resist the ongoing genocide in Palestine. Netanyahu’s stern criticism and admonishment of European and other Western governments for their recognition of a Palestinian state, however, present new opportunities for the pro-Palestine movement to establish a new consensus with other forces that share similar objectives that were previously unattainable. This consensus can serve as the foundation upon which a future, independent Palestine can be constructed.

The SACP calls upon the progressives around the world to deepen our shared struggle to defend the people of Palestine and to resist Zionist Israel and its political agenda.

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ISSUED BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNIST PARTY,
FOUNDED IN 1921 AS THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF SOUTH AFRICA.