Calls Mount to Abolish UN Veto Power as Global Order Shifts
UNITED NATIONS - Growing international pressure is building for reform of the United Nations Security Council, specifically targeting the veto power held by its five permanent members – the United States, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom. Singapore‘s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has become the latest voice calling for a more representative and inclusive UN,arguing the current structure fails to reflect the realities of the 21st century.
Balakrishnan stated that the post-World War II world order “ended,” citing a dramatic shift in the distribution of economic weight, technological sophistication, and military power since 1945. This call for reform comes amid increasing frustration with the Security Council’s inaction on critical global conflicts, most recently demonstrated by the US veto of a resolution demanding a ceasefire in Gaza on February 21st. Fourteen other UN member states voted in favor of the resolution, wich the US opposed due to its failure to condemn Hamas or acknowledge Israel’s right to self-defense.
The debate over the veto power is not new. Last year, during a UN Security Council Open Debate, Singapore also advocated for board reform, including restrictions on veto rights. The current system, critics argue, allows a single permanent member to block resolutions even with overwhelming international support, effectively paralyzing the Council’s ability to address urgent crises.
Balakrishnan also emphasized the need for a stronger relationship between the Security Council and the UN General Assembly. He further indicated Singapore would reconsider its position on recognizing a Palestinian state should Israel take steps that further undermine the possibility of a two-state solution.
The escalating conflict in Gaza, where over 65,000 Palestinians have been killed as October 7, 2023 – the majority women and children – has intensified calls for accountability and a reevaluation of the UN’s effectiveness. Israel maintains its military actions are aimed at destroying Hamas, which claimed responsibility for the deaths of 1,200 peopel in Israel and continues to hold hostages in Gaza.The situation underscores the urgent need for a more equitable and responsive international framework, advocates say, one where the interests of all nations are considered, not just those of a privileged few.