Heine Appears on CGTN’s “The Heat” to Discuss 80 Years of United Nations
Ambassador Jorge Heine recently appeared on CGTN’s “The Heat” as a part of a panel discussing the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. Heine emphasized the integral role the UN played in the aftermath of World War II, calling it a “primordial multilateral organization,” and highlighted its impact on humanitarian, security, peace, and development efforts across the globe.
“This globalized world in which we live in, you need an entity that provides some global public goods that sets some rules and that tries to keep the world moving in the right direction,” said Heine. “I think the UN is an absolutely essential entity in today’s world. I must say I am very disturbed by the crisis it is undergoing right now and the severe budgetary cuts it is facing… I think we need to reckon that we need the United Nations, the world needs the United Nations and we must do whatever is needed to keep it going.”
While Heine praised the UN, he also noted several countries don’t view it as a legitimate and fair organization as they lack the right to vote on key issues—with the West holding disproportionate power. As the Global South ascends in the international economy, the ambassador suggested that the UN should make sincere efforts to accurately represent the countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America in decision-making processes that affect all.
Another reason for the UN’s unpopularity, according to Heine, is the waning of global unity in the face of the current political climate.
“Today unfortunately we have moved towards a situation in which international cooperation has been replaced by basically quite naked great power competition…. The utmost example of that of course was the pandemic in the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2021. One would have thought that would be the best moment for nations to work together. It didn’t happen and the results were there for all to see with many millions of deaths and fatalities.”
To watch Ambassador Heine’s full interview, click here.
A former research professor at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, Jorge Heine is a diplomat, international relations scholar, and lawyer. He has served as an ambassador of Chile to China, India, and South Africa. Heine has written over fifteen books, including The Non-Aligned World: Striking Out in an Era of Great Power Competition (2025), which provides insights on how the Global South can navigate the changing diplomatic landscape amid the U.S.-China rivalry.