Doha, July 09 (QNA) - Since its establishment in 1945, following World War II and the founding of the United Nations, the UN Security Council (UNSC) has faced numerous calls over the decades for reform and change in its decision-making mechanisms on political, military, and economic issues, mechanisms controlled by five permanent member states who hold the power to shape global relations and wield the veto right.

With the shift in global economic and geopolitical power balances over the last three decades and the declining European influence on pivotal global policy decisions, calls have intensified for the inclusion of influential countries from different continents into the official international structure, with many states seeing this as essential for achieving justice in the distribution of duties and rights within a multipolar world order.

The most recent such call came from Brazil's Rio de Janeiro on the sidelines of the BRICS summit-a bloc that includes major political and economic powers like China and Russia-where Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the urgent need for a comprehensive reform of the UNSC, with this view being widely shared among global leaders and countries that deem the fact that five nations monopolize decisions eight decades after the UN's founding as outdated.

This reform debate is bolstered by the rise of key countries in today’s global order such as India, which is on the verge of becoming the 4th-largest economy, surpassing Japan, according to IMF forecasts, which predict that India's GDP will reach USD 4.187 trillion in the fiscal year 2025-2026, just ahead of Japan’s $4.186 trillion, in addition to Brazil, which has seen a significant transformation over the past two decades, becoming a model for developing nations through strategic projects that elevated it to the 8th-largest economy in the world. Brazil boasts an average annual growth rate of 5 percent, contributes one-third of South America's GDP, and holds the 6th-largest foreign currency reserve globally.

India and Brazil are not alone in demanding changes to the UN and its Security Council. Japan, the 4th-largest economy with multinational corporate giants, and Turkiye, a rising military and economic power known for its strategic location and intermediary foreign policy role, are among the loudest voices. Turkiye also advocates for Muslim representation among the UNSC’s permanent members. South Africa, the most prominent economic power in Africa, is also not far from such calls.

However, divisions among major powers continue to hinder consensus. The five permanent members-the US, Russia, China, the UK, and France-often clash over reform preferences and support selective candidacies. These powers are also accused of using the veto right in biased ways that protect their allies and fail to address escalating wars, humanitarian crises, and socio-economic tensions-often caused or exacerbated by the very same global powers.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, now in its eighth decade, and the war on Gaza for over a year and a half, have highlighted stark international bias, prompting demands for a firm stance against genocide and famine in Palestine. Meanwhile, the conflict in Ukraine, entering its third year, continues to drain military resources on both sides amid a standoff between Russia, the US, and the West. Not to mention the recent clashes between India and Pakistan and the mutual strikes between Iran and Israel, which have brought the Middle East to the brink of a devastating war with severe humanitarian and economic consequences.

Furthermore, the debate over reform is not limited to the UN and the Security Council but also extends to representation in global financial institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. A recent example of such calls came from Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the 17th BRICS Summit, during which he called for a review of voting shares in the World Bank and an adjustment of quotas in the IMF, moves that would give China greater influence over global financial and economic policy.

UNSC reform remains a persistent and complex issue at the UN, with the aim of making it more representative and effective in addressing global peace and security challenges. Many believe the current Council no longer reflects the geopolitical realities of today, with underrepresentation of developing countries and those from Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The UNSC is also frequently criticized for its slow decision-making and paralysis caused by the veto powers, especially during times of crisis. (QNA)