Submitted by: OpenVLD (Belgium)

Recalling:

The Liberal Manifesto adopted by the Congress of Liberal International on 18-21 May 2017 in Andorra, which states that “For Liberals the preservation or development of peaceful, respectful relations between communities, instead of the use of illegal, aggressive force, remains the basis for any civilized resolution of conflict.”

Article 2 of the Charter of the United Nations which states that “All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered.” and “All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.”

Recognizes that:

Many countries, including ‘Great Powers’, are rapidly increasing their military expenditure and  modernizing their military capabilities and arsenals due to recent security threats.

This evolution has been accompanied by a recent increase in threats to use military force. The most striking example of this being the heightened tensions between the USA and North Korea which led to the use of belligerent language and show of force from both sides.

There have been an increasing number of military close encounters between the Great Powers such as between Russia and NATO above the Baltic and Black Sea regions and between the USA and China in or above the South China Sea.

Threats to use military force are major obstacles to political and diplomatic solutions to international conflicts and increase the likelihood of actual military conflicts.

International foreign policy is gradually becoming more militarised and military tensions are rising worldwide.

Calls on governments, international organizations and all member parties to:

Firmly condemn open threats to use military force by any state.

Counter the rise in worldwide military tensions by favouring the peaceful, diplomatic resolution of conflicts over the threat or use of military force.

Undertake efforts to promote inter-state dialogue and develop respectful relations between communities.

Actively continue to support a rule-based international order in which the use of force is considered punishable by international law.