Guterres Warns of UNSC Legitimacy Crisis

DID Press: António Guterres has warned that the current structure of the UN Security Council faces a “serious legitimacy and efficiency crisis,” calling for an expansion of its permanent membership to better reflect today’s global realities.

The UN Security Council currently consists of five permanent members—China, France, United Kingdom, United States, and Russia—all holding veto power, alongside 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.

Guterres emphasized that only one Asian country holds permanent membership, despite Asia representing nearly half of the world’s population. He also noted the absence of permanent representation for Africa and Latin America.

He described the imbalance as a “serious legitimacy and efficiency problem,” stressing the need to expand both permanent and non-permanent seats so the Council can align with contemporary global realities.

The remarks were made during a press briefing at the conclusion of his official visit to Japan, which is marking 70 years of cooperation with the United Nations.

The Secretary-General also highlighted the importance of international cooperation amid what he described as a world facing “conflicts, climate crises, and rising inequality.”

He warned that global inflation and cost-of-living pressures—exacerbated by the war in the Middle East—are worsening conditions, driving up prices of energy, raw materials, and agricultural fertilizers.