(Singapore, 28th) Singapore’s Foreign Minister Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan has called for reforms to the United Nations Security Council, including restricting the increasingly frequent use of veto power by the five permanent members. He also said UN member states should reach a consensus on how the veto should be exercised in the future.
On Saturday afternoon, US time (early Sunday morning Singapore time), Dr. Vivian spoke at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, and at the end of his trip to New York, he gave an interview to Singaporean media.
During the interview, he emphasized that a weakened or ineffective United Nations is highly detrimental to small states. Countries “must never allow the UN to fall into decline, but must also pragmatically recognize the need for reform.” He urged nations to actively participate and assist the leadership of the UN in carrying out reforms.
He said: “Improving this organization and ensuring it keeps up with the times is a collective responsibility.”
In his speech, Dr. Vivian presented three reform proposals for the United Nations. In addition to the Security Council, he also called on the UN to strengthen public services—advancing access to clean water, education, and a global financial architecture that benefits all; and to look to the future, harnessing the positive role of artificial intelligence while setting guardrails for such cutting-edge technologies.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. Dr. Vivian noted that the world has undergone many changes in the past 80 years, and the UN must reform to meet the challenges of the next stage. “We need a more representative and inclusive UN that reflects current realities.”
The five permanent members of the Security Council—the United States, China, France, Russia, and the United Kingdom—have in recent years repeatedly exercised their vetoes on major security issues such as the Gaza conflict and the Russia-Ukraine war, drawing international attention to the effectiveness of UN decision-making.
Dr. Vivian cited the UN Charter, which assigns the Security Council the “primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.” “The Council clearly needs reform to better fulfill this mission.”
Dr. Vivian said: “The increasingly frequent use of the veto by the P5 must be curtailed. The wider UN membership must reach a consensus on how the veto should be exercised in the future.”
He also acknowledged the important role played by the non-permanent members of the Security Council, which empowers the broader UN membership to take greater action in addressing urgent issues. In addition, “strengthening the relationship between the Security Council and the General Assembly is also crucial.”
On Saturday afternoon, US time (early Sunday morning Singapore time), Dr. Vivian spoke at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, and at the end of his trip to New York, he gave an interview to Singaporean media.
During the interview, he emphasized that a weakened or ineffective United Nations is highly detrimental to small states. Countries “must never allow the UN to fall into decline, but must also pragmatically recognize the need for reform.” He urged nations to actively participate and assist the leadership of the UN in carrying out reforms.
He said: “Improving this organization and ensuring it keeps up with the times is a collective responsibility.”
In his speech, Dr. Vivian presented three reform proposals for the United Nations. In addition to the Security Council, he also called on the UN to strengthen public services—advancing access to clean water, education, and a global financial architecture that benefits all; and to look to the future, harnessing the positive role of artificial intelligence while setting guardrails for such cutting-edge technologies.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. Dr. Vivian noted that the world has undergone many changes in the past 80 years, and the UN must reform to meet the challenges of the next stage. “We need a more representative and inclusive UN that reflects current realities.”
The five permanent members of the Security Council—the United States, China, France, Russia, and the United Kingdom—have in recent years repeatedly exercised their vetoes on major security issues such as the Gaza conflict and the Russia-Ukraine war, drawing international attention to the effectiveness of UN decision-making.
Dr. Vivian cited the UN Charter, which assigns the Security Council the “primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.” “The Council clearly needs reform to better fulfill this mission.”
Dr. Vivian said: “The increasingly frequent use of the veto by the P5 must be curtailed. The wider UN membership must reach a consensus on how the veto should be exercised in the future.”
He also acknowledged the important role played by the non-permanent members of the Security Council, which empowers the broader UN membership to take greater action in addressing urgent issues. In addition, “strengthening the relationship between the Security Council and the General Assembly is also crucial.”