Obama calls for changing architecture of global institutions

US President Barack Obama today called for changing the architecture of international institutions like the UN, the World Bank and the IMF to reflect the ground realties of the changed times, echoing India's views on reform of the key global bodies.
Obama described this part of his efforts to strengthen and enforce international order.
"After World War II, America had the wisdom to shape institutions to keep the peace and support human progress - from NATO and the United Nations, to the World Bank and IMF. Though imperfect, these institutions have been a force multiplier - reducing the need for unilateral American action, and increased restraint among other nations," he said.

"But just as the world has changed, this architecture must change as well...Evolving these institutions to meet the demands of today must be a critical part of American leadership," said the US President at the graduation ceremony of the elite Military Academy in West Point, New York.
Obama, during his historic travel to India in November 2010, had endorsed India for permanent seat in the UN Security Council.
The United States believes that it is time that India be given due place in international organisation which matches its regional and global power.

However, in today's speech, Obama made no reference to India's place in UN Security Council.

He said America's ability to shape world opinion helped isolate Russia right away.
"The IMF is helping to stabilise Ukraine's economy. OSCE monitors brought the eyes of the world to unstable parts of Ukraine. This mobilisation of world opinion and institutions served as a counterweight to Russian propaganda, Russian troops on the border, and armed militias," he said.
Similarly, he said, despite frequent warnings from the United States, Israel, and others, the Iranian nuclear program steadily advanced for years.
Obama said the US needs to do more to strengthen the institutions that can anticipate and prevent them from spreading.
For example, NATO is the strongest alliance the world has ever known.

"But we are now working with NATO allies to meet new missions - within Europe, where our Eastern allies must be reassured; and also beyond Europe's borders, where our NATO allies must pull their weight to counter-terrorism, respond to failed states, and train a network of partners," he added.