General Assembly: 22nd plenary meeting, 81st session
- Question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Security Council - Item 125
Debate on the item
Agenda item81st session
Item 125
Question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Security Council
Speaking timeItaly (4.3%) · Namibia (4.1%) · Saint Lucia (3.7%) + 32 more · Unattributed (4.8%)
Plenary meetings, 22nd meeting of the 81st session. Agenda items taken up: item 125, “Question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Security Council”; “Debate on the item”. 34 speakers were heard, representing 34 delegations.
Points of disagreement
Namibia, on behalf of African Member States, the African group, rejected the bridging proposal of fixed regional seats, saying a seat held on an elected, renewable and reviewable term is not a permanent seat; it also said Africa reserves the right to proceed under the Pact for the Future should the IGN prevent meaningful progress.
Bahrain, on behalf of Arab Group, regretted that the majority of cases in which the veto was used, particularly in the last three decades, concerned issues related to the Arab region.
Republic of Korea opposed any expansion of the veto, saying it would undermine efforts to make the Council more democratic and effective, and supported the Franco Mexican Initiative and the ACT Code of Conduct.
Pakistan opposed the creation of individual additional permanent seats, saying that expanding the permanent category with or without veto would entrench inequality rather than democratize the Council.
Key points
Jamaica, on behalf of fourteen member states of the Caribbean community, said the extremely slow pace of Security Council reform was deeply regrettable, and urged all Member States to fully recommit to the goal of urgent reform and to take tangible steps to secure it.
Italy, on behalf of Pro Reform and Cross Regional Group Uniting for Consensus, reiterated confidence that the co-chairs will lead the IGN process in an impartial, balanced and inclusive manner, and stated that the goal is a Council that is more representative, democratic, transparent, accountable, effective and responsive.
Nigeria, on behalf of L 69 Group, reaffirmed its full commitment to the common African position set out in the Azului Consensus and the SET Declaration, under which Africa seeks no less than two permanent seats with all prerogatives and privileges, including the veto for as long as it exists, and five non-permanent seats.
Statement by statement · 32 speakers
🇳🇦 Namibia · on behalf of African Member States, the African group
Namibia, on behalf of African Member States, the African group, called for full and faithful implementation of the Pact for the Future's commitments to Africa, including actions 39, 40 and 41 and development during this session of a consolidated model in which the African reform model is fully and faithfully reflected.
Namibia, on behalf of African Member States, the African group, stated that Africa's demand is two permanent seats with all rights and privileges of the current permanent members, including the right to veto if retained, and five non permanent seats, as articulated in the Ezolini Consensus and the SIRTE Declaration.
Namibia, on behalf of African Member States, the African group, rejected the bridging proposal of fixed regional seats, saying a seat held on an elected, renewable and reviewable term is not a permanent seat; it also said Africa reserves the right to proceed under the Pact for the Future should the IGN prevent meaningful progress.
🇯🇲 Jamaica · on behalf of fourteen member states of the Caribbean community
Jamaica, on behalf of fourteen member states of the Caribbean community, said the extremely slow pace of Security Council reform was deeply regrettable, and urged all Member States to fully recommit to the goal of urgent reform and to take tangible steps to secure it.
Jamaica, on behalf of fourteen member states of the Caribbean community, stated that normalizing the working methods could bring more concrete and binding results, and that it would particularly welcome work during this session on a consolidated model of reform.
🇮🇹 Italy · on behalf of Pro Reform and Cross Regional Group Uniting for Consensus
Italy, on behalf of Pro Reform and Cross Regional Group Uniting for Consensus, reiterated confidence that the co-chairs will lead the IGN process in an impartial, balanced and inclusive manner, and stated that the goal is a Council that is more representative, democratic, transparent, accountable, effective and responsive.
Italy, on behalf of Pro Reform and Cross Regional Group Uniting for Consensus, stated that the expansion of elected non-permanent membership, as proposed by the UFC model, would strengthen representativeness and broaden opportunities for the 58 member states that have yet to serve, whereas adding new permanent members would undermine sovereign equality.
Italy, on behalf of Pro Reform and Cross Regional Group Uniting for Consensus, called for limitation of the veto in specific circumstances such as mass atrocities and war crimes, while continuing to advocate its suppression, and for stronger Council working methods and greater coherence across the UN system.
🇱🇨 Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia stated that the trust deficit gathers around a Security Council that the majority of the membership no longer identifies with, and that trust cannot be restored while the organ responsible for international peace and security remains the least representative part of the system.
Saint Lucia called for greater Global South representation in both the non permanent and permanent categories of an expanded Security Council, noting that Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean have never held a permanent seat and that Asia-Pacific remains underrepresented in the permanent category.
Saint Lucia stressed that the next step on Security Council reform should be text based negotiations within the IGN, gathering positions into a single text with each attributed to those who hold it, and requested record keeping and attribution of positions.
🇧🇭 Bahrain · on behalf of Arab Group
Bahrain, on behalf of Arab Group, reiterated commitment to a comprehensive reform of the Security Council to make it more representative, transparent, effective and accountable, and said the intergovernmental negotiations under GA Decision 62-557 remain the only appropriate way to address the issue.
Bahrain, on behalf of Arab Group, stated that Arab representation remains one of the most significant existing gaps in the Council's structure, and that any genuine reform must guarantee permanent Arab representation based on full equality in rights and privileges.
Bahrain, on behalf of Arab Group, regretted that the majority of cases in which the veto was used, particularly in the last three decades, concerned issues related to the Arab region.
🇩🇰 Denmark · on behalf of Nordic countries Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden
Denmark, on behalf of Nordic countries Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, stated that reform of the Security Council is long overdue and that the Council must become more effective, transparent, representative and accountable.
Denmark, on behalf of Nordic countries Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, supported expansion of the Council in both the permanent and non permanent categories, including strengthened African representation in both categories, as reflected in the Pact for the Future.
Denmark, on behalf of Nordic countries Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, welcomed the United Kingdom's recent decision to join the French Mexican Initiative, and called on all member states, particularly the remaining permanent members, to make the same commitments.
🇲🇻 Maldives
Maldives said the Maldives supports expansion in both permanent and non permanent categories of Council membership, that Africa must receive representation long denied to it, and that small island developing states need a dedicated, rotating seat.
Maldives announced that the Maldives seeks election to the Security Council for the term 2033 to 34 and asked for the support of all member states.
Maldives stated that the position of the Maldives is that the veto must be abolished; until then, permanent members must exercise restraint, and if permanent membership is expanded there can be no second class permanent members.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
United Kingdom stated that the UK remained a strong supporter of Security Council reform, supporting expansion in both the permanent and non permanent categories to a total in the mid 20s, and permanent seats for Brazil, Germany, India and Japan.
United Kingdom stressed that securing permanent African representation was a matter of urgency.
🇧🇷 Brazil
Brazil urged all delegations and the IGN co-chairs to do what was agreed in 2024 and prepare a consolidated model for reform based on convergences and models presented by member states, saying these commitments had not been honored.
Brazil stressed that text-based negotiation is the only way to end the exchange of views and move toward the widest possible political acceptance called for in Decision 62 557.
🇪🇬 Egypt
Egypt welcomed the President of the General Assembly's decision to reappoint the Permanent Representatives of Kuwait and the Netherlands as co-chairs of the intergovernmental negotiations on Security Council reform, and expressed Egypt's full support for them.
Egypt stressed that Security Council reform is a political and moral imperative, that UN reform cannot be limited to financial, administrative or working-methods aspects, and that it must include justice and democracy within the UN structure and decision making.
Egypt reaffirmed the common African position grounded in the Iselwini consensus, the CERD declaration and African Union summit resolutions, and reiterated the Arab position calling for permanent representation with full prerogatives; said the veto remains a central point of reform.
🇸🇬 Singapore
Singapore stated that Singapore is not part of any informal grouping in the IGN process and, as an independent voice and a small state, supports a constructive approach based on candid and inclusive dialogue.
Singapore said that Singapore has consistently supported expansion in both permanent and non-permanent categories, that reform must take into account the historical underrepresentation of Africa and the legitimate interests of small states, and that an enlarged council should have membership in the mid-20s.
Singapore stated that Singapore was not persuaded that increasing the number of veto wielding members would make the Council more effective or responsive, supported initiatives for accountability and restraint in the use of the veto, and welcomed the UK's decision to join the French Mexican Initiative.
🇲🇽 Mexico
Mexico reiterated that Mexico continues to champion the abolishment of the veto, while recognizing the political difficulties, and therefore promotes tangible measures to limit its use, including the Franco Mexican Initiative and the Code of Conduct of the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency Group.
Mexico said that expanding the category of permanent members would not resolve the shortcomings that have contributed to the council's paralysis, and would extend privileges to more states instead of making the council more democratic and legitimate.
🇳🇬 Nigeria · on behalf of L 69 Group
Nigeria, on behalf of L 69 Group, reaffirmed its full commitment to the common African position set out in the Azului Consensus and the SET Declaration, under which Africa seeks no less than two permanent seats with all prerogatives and privileges, including the veto for as long as it exists, and five non-permanent seats.
🇩🇿 Algeria
Algeria stressed that the urgent need for Security Council reform cannot be overstated, and that the reform process must deliver a Council that is genuinely representative, effective and democratic, addressing as a priority the historical injustice inflicted upon Africa through its underrepresentation.
Algeria reiterated support for Africa's legitimate aspiration to full and equitable representation, in line with the common African position, with no fewer than two permanent seats with all prerogatives including the veto, and five non permanent seats.
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia stated that reform of the Security Council is a core pillar for strengthening the organization and must keep pace with the UN80 initiative.
Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its commitment to the framework established by Decision 6257 and to the IGNs, advocating a comprehensive and integrated approach to the five clusters.
Saudi Arabia underscored the importance of restricting the use of the veto, particularly in cases of genocide, crimes against humanity and grave violations of international law.
🇧🇫 Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso stated that the composition and operations of the Security Council no longer allow it to tackle the complex challenges of today's world, citing polarization and paralysis, and that the machinery needs to be rethought.
🇷🇺 Russian Federation
Russian Federation stated that Russia believed the Security Council needed to be more representative, involving developing states in Africa, Asia and Latin America, and that there was an overriding need to redress a historical injustice vis-a-vis Africa.
Russian Federation said that doubling the Council's membership to 25 to 30 would double the time needed for discussion and reduce each member's role in decision taking, and proposed keeping the number in the low twenties.
Russian Federation said that Russia did not support initiatives which, in its words, trample upon the prerogatives of current permanent members, including the veto.
🇵🇱 Poland
Poland called for all Member States to approach Security Council reform negotiations with openness to compromise, willingness to consider different proposals, and a realistic assessment of what can be achieved.
Poland said an increase in the number of non permanent members remained the most realistic element of reform, with broad support, and that the demands of underrepresented regional groups were understandable and legitimate.
Poland said complete abolition of the veto remained unrealistic under current circumstances, but urged practical measures to moderate its use, such as the French American initiative, Article 27, paragraph 3 of the Charter, and exploring a no vote by permanent members without triggering veto.
🇲🇦 Morocco
Morocco stressed the need to redress the historical injustice done to Africa, citing its absence from the permanent category and its underrepresentation in the non-permanent category of the Security Council.
Morocco reaffirmed its commitment to the common African position, as enshrined in the Ezouini Consensus and ICERT Declaration, calling for no fewer than two permanent seats and five non permanent seats for Africa.
Morocco said as long as the veto exists, it must be broadened to all permanent Security Council members, and that reform of membership must go hand in hand with improved working methods.
🇨🇳 China
China stressed the need to enhance the representation and voice of developing countries in the Security Council, including priority and special arrangements for African demands to redress what it called historical injustices suffered by Africa.
China stressed the need to respect the consensus of member states and adhere to a package solution, saying that haste, artificial timelines or a piecemeal approach would only aggravate differences and disputes among the parties.
China firmly opposed any practice of starting an alternative platform, saying the IGN on Security Council reform is the only legitimate platform for discussing reform and its role is irreplaceable.
🇹🇱 Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste reaffirmed its strong commitment to comprehensive reform of the United Nations Security Council, noting that permanent membership has remained unchanged since 1945 and that this raises questions about representation, legitimacy and confidence in multilateral decision making.
🇬🇪 Georgia
Georgia supported expansion of the Security Council in both the permanent and non permanent categories, with more equitable geographical representation; adequate additional representation for the Eastern European group remained a priority for its delegation.
🇮🇩 Indonesia
Indonesia stated that a reformed Council was both an urgent and strategic necessity, and outlined three imperatives: flexibility and political wisdom, a consolidated model rooted in convergences, and immediate concrete improvements on working methods.
Indonesia welcomed the co-chairs' efforts and initiative to find viable starting points to break the deadlock.
🇰🇷 Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea supported the expansion of the elected, non permanent category, including longer term seats with the possibility of re election, as a practical way to build a Council that is more representative and more accountable.
Republic of Korea opposed any expansion of the veto, saying it would undermine efforts to make the Council more democratic and effective, and supported the Franco Mexican Initiative and the ACT Code of Conduct.
Republic of Korea stated that moving towards text-based negotiations or a consolidated model without sufficient convergence would risk deepening divisions among member states, and that the focus should be on building common ground across all five interlinked clusters.
🇪🇸 Spain
Spain reiterated opposition to the creation of new permanent seats, saying they would entrench existing inequalities and limit opportunities for other states; it proposed increasing the number of elected seats, with longer terms and preserving rotation and accountability before the General Assembly.
Spain urged all states that have not yet done so to accede to the Franco-Mexican initiative and the ACT Code of Conduct, and those already supporting them to implement their commitments.
🇹🇭 Thailand
Thailand expressed concern over the prolonged impasse in appointing the chairs and vice chairs of the subsidiary bodies, which it said directly impairs the Council's overall work and diminishes its credibility.
🇦🇷 Argentina
Argentina stated that Argentina supports exclusively and solely the incorporation of new non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly, and that Council reform must offer new opportunities for participation and must not establish new permanent privileges.
Argentina stated that the primary source of inequality within the Council lies in permanent members whose position is not subject to periodic elections, and that a reform designed to correct an inequality must neither reproduce nor deepen it.
Argentina said Argentina does not support any artificial hastening of the process, nor premature attempts to produce documents, and that the IGN remains the legitimate and inclusive forum for reform.
🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea welcomed the decision to appoint the Permanent Representatives of Kuwait and the Netherlands as co-chairs of the Intergovernmental Negotiations on Security Council reform, and thanked them for their work during the 81st session of the General Assembly.
Equatorial Guinea stated that the Security Council's composition remained rooted in the realities of 1945 and lacked the legitimacy and effectiveness needed, and that decades of debate had produced repeated positions without sufficient substantive progress.
🇮🇳 India
India stated that 1945 cannot be held as the sole reference point for today's UN and today's generation, and that an organization which cannot renew its principal organ will find it harder to command authority in a world that has moved beyond 1945.
India stressed that the Asia-Pacific Group, accounting for more than 60% of the world's population, has one permanent member while Europe has two, and that a reform expanding only the non-permanent category leaves a central imbalance untouched.
India called for the co-chairs to move early in the 81st session from the elements paper to a negotiating text reflecting the breadth of support for expansion in both categories, and said the veto, as long as it exists, must be held by all permanent members, new and old alike.
🇱🇮 Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein stated that Liechtenstein measures progress in the IGN process by whether conditions are being created for a fruitful negotiation, including clearer choices for the membership and a process allowing states and groups to refine their models in response to one another.
Liechtenstein welcomed the presentation of the African group's model and the co-chair's bridging proposal this session, saying bridging proposals help the membership identify possible landing zones and understand trade offs.
Liechtenstein said that Liechtenstein remains committed to creating pathways outside of the IGN, including the V two initiative, and noted that the Council's primary responsibility for peace and security is not exclusive.
🇸🇲 San Marino
San Marino stated that expanding non permanent elected seats is the most effective pathway to broaden participation, while creating new permanent seats would further restrict opportunities for the broader membership and violate the principle of sovereign equality.
San Marino called for immediate measures to limit the use of the veto, in particular in cases involving mass atrocity and war crimes, with the ultimate goal of its total elimination, and for a revamp of the Council's working methods.
🇵🇰 Pakistan
Pakistan opposed the creation of individual additional permanent seats, saying that expanding the permanent category with or without veto would entrench inequality rather than democratize the Council.
Pakistan stated that the principal obstacle to agreement was the insistence of a few states on acquiring permanent seats, coupled with what it called their unwillingness and inflexibility to accommodate the broader interests of the wider UN membership.
Pakistan proposed expanding only the elected non-permanent category based on fair rotation through regular elections, with each region possibly assigned longer-term seats including the possibility of re-election, while stating that the historic injustice against Africa must be redressed.
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