Security Council’s Legitimacy at Stake as It Marks 80th Anniversary, Warns UN Chief

UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday cautioned that the legitimacy of the Security Council is “fragile” and urged member states to recommit to the founding principles of the UN Charter while pursuing long-overdue reforms to reflect modern geopolitical realities.

“Too often, we have seen members of this body act outside the principles of the Charter, principles we have all freely agreed to as sovereign nations,” Guterres said. “When that happens, it not only stalls action in the moment, it erodes trust in the entire United Nations project. It also puts us all in great danger.”

Speaking from Hanoi during a Security Council open debate convened by Russia — which currently holds the rotating presidency — to mark the UN’s 80th anniversary, Guterres said the council remains “a vital necessity and a powerful force for good.” He cited its role in ending apartheid in South Africa, restoring peace in post-genocide Cambodia, and preventing a major-power war for eight decades.

However, he warned that these achievements are now threatened by paralysis, geopolitical rivalries, and a lack of fair representation. Calling reform “imperative and long overdue,” Guterres stressed the need to expand the council’s membership. He noted that Africa, which hosts nearly half of all UN peacekeeping missions, still lacks a permanent seat, while Latin America, the Caribbean, and much of Asia remain underrepresented.

“Expanding the membership is not only about justice, it is also about results,” he said. “It has the potential to undo deadlocks and offer stability in our increasingly multipolar world.”

The UN chief welcomed proposals from France and the UK to voluntarily limit their use of veto power — a privilege they share with Russia, China, and the United States — saying it could make the council more responsive to crises such as those in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan.

“The Security Council is not about hegemons and empires,” Guterres said. “It is about parents who have lost their children, refugees flung far from their homes, soldiers who have sacrificed their limbs.”

Calling for “a renewed moral purpose and greater inclusivity,” he concluded: “The time has come to open the doors of the chamber and let in the light. Without a Security Council fit for purpose, the world is in grave danger.”