Mahama challenges Non-Aligned Movement to move from declarations to action

President John Dramani Mahama has challenged the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to move beyond declarations and translate its commitments into coordinated action capable of delivering practical solutions to global challenges.

He said the strength of the 120-member movement should not be measured solely by its numbers but by its ability to leverage its collective influence through coordinated diplomacy and achieve meaningful outcomes on the international stage.

President Mahama made the call during a high-level commemorative meeting in Belgrade, Serbia, marking the 65th anniversary of the First Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries.

According to President Mahama, the principles that guided the establishment of the Non-Aligned Movement remain relevant 65 years after its founding, particularly amid growing geopolitical tensions, conflicts and uncertainty around the world.

“We must move from declarations to actions,” he said.

President Mahama recalled the position expressed by former Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito during the inaugural NAM conference held in Belgrade on September 1, 1961.

He noted that Tito had argued that non-aligned countries could no longer accept the role of merely observing and voting on global issues but had the right to participate actively in resolving problems, especially those threatening international peace and the future of humanity.

“Here we are 65 years later,” President Mahama said, stressing that the principle remains relevant to the Movement’s role in contemporary global affairs.

He said the founding vision should guide NAM’s approach to international diplomacy and its response to emerging global challenges.

President Mahama argued that the Movement’s influence would be better demonstrated by its ability to convert its collective weight into coordinated diplomatic action.

“This profound assertion remains very relevant. The movement's strength should be measured not only by our numbers but also by our ability to translate its collective weight into coordinated diplomacy and practical outcomes,” he said.

He called for stronger consultation and coordination among NAM member states, particularly within the United Nations and other multilateral institutions where their interests overlap.

According to him, closer coordination would enable member states to advance shared interests more effectively and strengthen the Movement’s voice in global decision-making.

“We must strengthen consultation and coordination among member states, particularly within the United Nations and other multilateral institutions where our interests converge,” he said.

The President also called for improved implementation and follow-up of decisions adopted at NAM summits and ministerial conferences.

He urged member states to identify strategic priorities where the Movement could have the greatest impact rather than allowing declarations and resolutions to remain largely unimplemented.

“We should therefore strengthen follow-up decisions of our summits and ministerial conferences and focus on strategic priorities where the movement can have meaningful impact,” President Mahama said.

His call comes amid renewed debates about the relevance and effectiveness of multilateral institutions in addressing conflicts, geopolitical tensions, economic inequalities and other global challenges.

Host President Aleksandar Vučić assured members of the Non-Aligned Movement that Serbia was committed to strengthening its partnerships with NAM countries.

He said Serbia was exploring opportunities to deepen cooperation with member states, including expanding educational opportunities for students from NAM countries.

President Vučić indicated that Serbia wanted to create opportunities for more students from Non-Aligned Movement countries to travel to the country to pursue higher education.

The initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen people-to-people and institutional relations between Serbia and countries belonging to the Non-Aligned Movement.

The commemorative meeting in Belgrade marks 65 years since the first Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries was held in the Serbian capital on September 1, 1961.

The founding conference brought together countries seeking to pursue an independent foreign policy amid the Cold War rivalry between the major power blocs.

Six and a half decades later, President Mahama said the Movement must renew its commitment to collective action and ensure that its considerable diplomatic weight produces tangible results.

He maintained that stronger coordination, effective follow-up and strategic prioritisation would be critical to ensuring that NAM remains an influential force in global affairs.