Non-Aligned Movement

The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was founded in 1961 with the view to advancing interests of developing countries in the context of Cold War confrontation. In its first three decades, the Movement played a crucial role in decolonization, formation of new independent states, and democratization of international relations.

At present, the NAM consists of 121 States that account for about 60% of the United Nations overall membership. Observer status in the NAM has been provided to 17 states and 10 organizations.

The Non-Aligned Movement aspires to occupy a niche of a political gathering that seeks to oppose West’s unilateral approaches and actions on the global stage.

NAM builds its work on ten Bandung principles, including: respect for the sovereignty, equality and territorial integrity of all states; rejection of the possibility of an unconstitutional change of government, as well as external attempts to change the regime of government; the preservation of the inalienable right for each state is free, without interference from outside, to determine its political, social, economic and cultural system; refusal from aggression and direct or indirect use of force; non-application of any unilateral economic, political or military measures.

The functioning of the NAM is organized without any formal administrative structures and without a budget.

NAM holds summits, foreign ministers level conferences, and meetings in New York at the level of ministers of foreign affairs of the NAM member countries during the sessions of the UN General Assembly, meetings of the NAM Coordination Bureau, activities of the Chairman and “Troika”, meetings of sectoral ministers of NAM members countries (ministers of labor, health, information), topical thematic meetings.

The XIX Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement was held on January 15-20, 2024 in Kampala.

In 2024 — 2027 NAM is chaired by Uganda.

The Republic of Belarus has been a member of the Non-Aligned Movement since 1998.