We say the defining question is this: do nations work for peace and order or embrace the notion of power by force?

• Jean-Noël Barrot is the foreign minister of France

We are being told that the world is divided between a “global north” and a “global south”. But what exactly is meant by that? An economic difference? Of the 20 leading global economies, several are in the south. In the south, some countries are many, many times richer than their neighbours. A climate difference? The climate crisis affects every country in the world, and especially small island states and the poorest countries. The 10 greatest emitters, if we go by CO₂ emissions per inhabitant, are split between countries in the north and south.

Are we talking about a migration difference? A huge number of migrations are between countries in the south. A political divide? In both the north and the south, there are those who support collective solutions, and conversely, those who support efforts to withdraw from global affairs. In both the north and the south, there is competition between regional powers. In both the north and the south, there are countries that comply with international law and others that flout it.

Jean-Noël Barrot is the foreign minister of France