Belgrade Commemorates 65th Anniversary of Non-Aligned Movement
A high-level meeting was held in Belgrade to mark the 65th anniversary of the first Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) conference. More than 30 representatives from Global South countries attended the event, calling for support for international cooperation, equality in sovereignty, and respect for international law.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said NAM is a key pillar of global cooperation and warned against the selective application of international law. Uganda’s Foreign Minister Jessica Alupo, speaking on behalf of President Yoweri Museveni, noted that the movement emerged from Cold War divisions and emphasized the importance of independent cooperation and international neutrality.
Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama urged Global South countries to adopt "positive neutrality" and pursue active diplomatic efforts to achieve effective results free from competing power blocs. Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud highlighted the importance of South-South cooperation and international collaboration to address global challenges such as terrorism and the impact of climate change.
The meeting took place 65 years after the first Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) conference, held in Belgrade in September 1961, which brought together leaders of countries seeking independence from Cold War blocs. Serbia, not a member of NAM but an observer, is working to preserve the diplomatic legacy of that conference and its relations with countries in the Global South.
