G4 nations push UN Security Council reform, call process ineffective
The G4 nations of Brazil, Germany, India and Japan have expressed strong concern over the lack of progress on reforming the UN Security Council during the previous Inter-Governmental Negotiations session, saying the 80-year-old structure no longer reflects current geopolitical realities.
In a joint ministerial statement issued after a meeting on Tuesday on the margins of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, the four countries said the Security Council is unable to effectively carry out its core responsibility of maintaining international peace and security. “The representativeness, legitimacy, credibility and efficacy of the UNSC are in question,” the statement said.
The meeting was attended by Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, Germany’s Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Johann David Wadephul, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Motegi Toshimitsu. The ministers said one of the main reasons for the present situation was the UN Security Council’s “eight-decade-old architecture”, which they said hinders efforts to address present and future challenges to peace and security.
The G4 ministers said the IGN framework has been largely “ineffective” in producing any concrete outcome on Security Council reform despite 18 years of activity. They “expressed strong concern at the lack of progress during the previous IGN session as well”. They also voiced “serious reservations against the presentation of a so-called bridging proposal even prior to commencement of text-based negotiations”, and said they regretted that the proposal did not reflect the views of a clear majority of member states in favour of expansion in both categories of membership. They added that, under the UN Charter and as reflected in the IGN mandate, consensus is not the benchmark for decision-making on Security Council reform.
The statement said the G4 would work more closely with other reform-oriented groups to develop a consolidated model that reflects the voice of a majority of member states and to begin text-based negotiations as a high priority. It said this was essential to restoring the representativeness, legitimacy, credibility and efficacy of a principal UN organ and to strengthening the multilateral system with the UN at its centre. The ministers also reiterated that discussions on reform need not be confined to the IGN and said they were willing to engage with the wider UN membership in other forums, including the General Assembly.
Reviewing discussions during the 80th session of the General Assembly, the ministers said reform of the Security Council is more necessary than ever in an increasingly difficult geopolitical environment. They said reform must be carried out at the earliest so that the Council is “fit-for-purpose” and truly reflects contemporary geopolitical realities. They underlined that expansion in both the permanent and non-permanent categories is central to reform and said this position is backed by a majority of member states. They also reiterated the need to improve the representation and participation of underrepresented and unrepresented regions and groups such as Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean, recognised historical injustices in representation, and underlined their continued support for Africa’s case for enhanced representation in the Security Council, including in the permanent category.
Overall, the G4 said UN Security Council reform remains urgent, called the current negotiating process ineffective, pushed for text-based negotiations, and renewed their demand for expansion in both permanent and non-permanent seats, with stronger representation for regions including Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean.
