Lavrov says U.S. threatens multilateralism, U.S. rejects remarks as 'whining'

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused the U.S. on Tuesday of demanding "unquestioning obedience" from allies and threatening multilateralism, prompting the U.S. to pan his remarks in the United Nations Security Council as "whining."

Lavrov chaired a meeting of the UN Security Council – convened by Russia as president of the 15-member body for July – on multilateral cooperation in the interests of a more just, democratic and sustainable world order.

"In order to contain Russia, China and other countries whose independent policies are seen as a challenge to its hegemony, the West is aggressively dismantling the global system that was originally built based on its models," Lavrov said.

He said Washington demands from allies an "unquestioning obedience even to the detriment of their national interests."

"Rule America – that is the essence of the notorious rules-based order, which is a direct threat to multilateralism and international law," he added.

On the issue of international peace and security and global cooperation, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Russia "doesn't take this matter seriously," calling out Moscow for its special military operation in Ukraine from February 2022.

"As I listened to the Russian representative's statement, I thought I was in the wrong room because this seemed to be a session whining about the United States and the West, and I hardly heard the word multilateralism mentioned," she said.

Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the UN, said the international order is based on the international law.

"We often hear the talk about a rules-based international order by some countries. But what kind of rules are we talking about? And who are the rule makers? No one has given us a clear and precise answer," he said.

He said a rules-based international order "advocated by some is really intended to create another system outside the existing system of international law and to seek legitimacy for double standards and exceptions."

(With input from Reuters)