Bart De Wever calls for mutual respect, peace and cooperation in UN address

For the first time, Bart De Wever addressed the United Nations General Assembly. In his speech, he delivered a clear message: the world needs more cooperation—built on shared values and mutual respect.

"Geopolitics often boils down to egopolitics"

De Wever quoted the Greek historian Thucydides, who once wrote: “The strong do what they can, and the weak suffer what they must.” He continued: “That is not the kind of world we want to live in today. Civilization means rising above our most basic instincts.”

He warned that international institutions and the rule of law are increasingly under pressure. “Too often, geopolitics is nothing more than egopolitics. That’s why I advocate for a world rooted in mutual respect. A world of free and fair trade. A world of strong partnerships, respect and cooperation. A world grounded in international law. A world that tackles climate change. A world of peace, prosperity and progress.”

Security: no room for naivety

Security was the first major challenge De Wever addressed. He made it clear that Belgium is taking its responsibility in defence seriously. “This is not the path we would have chosen. But we can’t afford to be naive. If you want peace, you must be ready to defend it. That’s why we fully support Ukraine.”

At the same time, the fight against international organised crime must be intensified. “Criminals don’t recognise borders. They exploit the differences between police forces and legal systems.”
But De Wever remains hopeful. He sees a renewed willingness in both Europe and Latin America to deepen cooperation. “Our societies must be open to trade, but closed to crime,” he stated.

Prosperity: free trade as the engine of progress

The second pillar of his speech was prosperity. According to De Wever, free trade is key to progress. “For more than two centuries, free and fair trade has been the only true engine of advancement. It has drastically reduced extreme poverty and dramatically increased life expectancy.”

He warned against protectionism and trade barriers, and called for more open markets, productivity, and innovation. “Prosperity builds peace and trust. Belgium will always remain open to trade,” he concluded.

A clear choice

De Wever ended with a powerful appeal: “Let us not give in to the harsh logic of Thucydides. Let us prove that humanity’s destiny is not to dominate or to suffer—but to cooperate and thrive together.”

The full speech is available on the Prime Minister’s website.