Maldives (Commonwealth Union)_ In a landmark address at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Maldives President His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Muizzu called for sweeping reforms aimed at abolishing the veto power wielded by the Council’s permanent members. This significant moment marked the first time a Maldivian president has addressed the UNSC since the Maldives became a UN member 59 years ago. Accordingly, President Muizzu articulated a powerful message on behalf of his people, urging the Council to reflect on its responsibilities toward global peace and security.
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During his address, President Muizzu emphasized the Council’s critical role in maintaining international stability, while also acknowledging the growing global disillusionment with its perceived ineffectiveness. He remarked, “The immense responsibility that the Council holds in maintaining global peace and security has often been met with immense failure.” His statements resonate with a broader sentiment that the Council’s structure lacks equal representation, accountability, and transparency, issues that have led to a decline in trust among UN member states.
The President proposed the establishment of a new intergovernmental process aimed at reforming the Council through text-based negotiations. He specifically reiterated the Maldives’ call for a permanent rotating seat for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), underscoring the need for more inclusive decision-making processes that better reflect the realities of today’s geopolitical landscape. One of the most urgent topics addressed by President Dr Muizzu was the ongoing conflict in Gaza. He said “genocide unfolding under the nose of a Security Council unwilling to uphold international law.”
This stark depiction highlighted the limitations of the UNSC, particularly its restrictions to act decisively in the face of conflicts. He indicated that the veto power acts as a barrier to effective decision-making, enabling Israel to continue its occupation and the associated violence with little to no accountability. “The veto continues to paralyze the Council from stopping Israel’s genocidal war against the Palestinian people,” he stated. His insistence on abolishing the veto power encapsulates a growing demand among many nations for a more just and effective global governance structure. He added, “We must abolish the veto. The massacre of innocent people must not go unchecked.”
In calling for this reform, President Muizzu argued that true democracy and accountability cannot be expected within UN member states if the Council itself operates in a manner that undermines those very principles. He urged the Council to adhere to the principles and architecture of a rules-based international order that member states had established. “Powerful members of this Council, do you really want to undermine the foundations of global order that you have built?” he asked, posing a critical question about the future of international relations. The President’s address also highlighted the need for innovative solutions to non-traditional security threats, including those arising from advancements in technology. He urged the Council to adapt and be more flexible in addressing these modern challenges, emphasizing that effective governance must evolve in line with the complexities of the contemporary world.
According to President Dr Muizzu, the Maldives has long placed its faith in the multilateral system and the principles outlined in the UN Charter. He also asserted that the Maldives deserves better than “empty rhetoric and half-hearted gestures.” His call for substantial reforms in the UNSC underscores a wider demand for a more effective and accountable international system. Furthermore, the UNSC veto power, held by five permanent members: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, has long been a contentious issue in international relations. Critics argue that it enables a select few to dictate global policy, often to the detriment of broader humanitarian interests.
Concluding his address, President Dr Muizzu reminded the Council of its foundational principles, stating, “The architecture is now disintegrating under the weight of bodies of civilians, aid workers, UN staff, and journalists.” This poignant statement serves as a grim reminder of the human cost of inaction and the urgent need for reform within the UNSC. President Muizzu’s remarks, delivered at the UN Security Council High-level Open Debate titled “Leadership for Peace: United in Respect of the UN Charter, in Search of a Secure Future,” underscored the necessity for immediate action to revitalize the UNSC. His call to action resonates not only with the people of the Maldives but also with countless individuals worldwide who yearn for a more equitable and just international order. As the UN faces a multitude of pressing global challenges, the need for reform has reached an unprecedented urgency.
