Summary of Dr. David Chikvaidze’s Talk
At a recent American International Club luncheon, Dr. David Chikvaidze—diplomat, former United Nations official, and Vice President of the Swiss Forum for International Affairs—offered a thoughtful assessment of today’s shifting geopolitical landscape. His central message was that the world is not simply facing turbulence, but undergoing a major transition between global eras.
He noted that the post-World War II international order built around the United Nations is weakening as multilateral cooperation declines. According to Chikvaidze, the world is no longer clearly unipolar or bipolar, nor yet a stable multipolar system, but rather an unsettled environment shaped largely by the strained relations among the United States, Russia, and China.
Discussing Russia’s war in Ukraine, he cautioned against underestimating Russia’s historical resilience and warned that the erosion of nuclear arms control agreements increases the risk of miscalculation between major powers. Turning to China, he described its rise primarily as an economic and strategic challenge, with its growing role in global trade and infrastructure reshaping the balance of power.
On the United States, Chikvaidze suggested the country is undergoing political “recalibration,” yet remains essential to global stability. He also emphasized that Europe must strengthen its defense capabilities and strategic autonomy in response to new security realities.
He concluded by noting that multilateralism is not defined solely by institutions such as the UN but by the willingness of nations to cooperate. While the world is not in a global war, it is experiencing what he called a “world of war”—multiple conflicts and rising tensions that mark a pivotal moment in international history.