Guterres addressed ambassadors in the iconic New York chamber on United Nations Day, marking 80 years since its founding. He spoke via video link from Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, during an intense open debate on how the UN navigates an uncertain future.

As the UN’s principal body for maintaining international peace and security, the council wields significant power, including the authority to impose sanctions and authorize military action.

Five of its 15 members have a permanent seat and were granted veto power under the UN Charter.

While the Council has played a central role in maintaining peace, resolving conflicts and upholding international law, its veto system has often paralyzed action and drawn criticism.

Many countries and senior officials consider the body’s structure to be unrepresentative, leaving regions such as Africa and Latin America without a permanent voice.

Invoking those who have sought an end to wars in the council for 80 years, Guterres said that “with the privilege of sitting at this table comes the duty – above all – to honor the faith of those people,” he said. “Without a fit-for-purpose Security Council, the world is in grave danger.”

Debate on the fundamentals

Chairing the council in October, Russia praised the UN’s achievements but criticized the actions of Western governments, while Guyana, an elected (non-permanent) member, said the body was unrepresentative and advocated for greater and meaningful global representation.

The United States focused on operational reform and accountability and called for a merit-based selection of the next Secretary General – who will take office in January 2027 – emphasizing the primacy of national sovereignty and transparency in the selection process.

The United States representative called for an end to a selection process based on regions taking turns, arguing that it was time to choose from a global list of candidates.

A UN for the weak, not for the powerful

The UN chief painted a vivid picture of how the Council’s decisions can impact citizens around the world:

“The Security Council is not about hegemons and empires. These are parents who have lost their children, refugees who flee far from their homes, soldiers who have sacrificed their limbs.

“In every shadow of this Chamber, you are surrounded by the ghosts of the dead. But with them there is something else: the hopes of the living.“

He urged Council members to listen to those hopes.

“Listen closely and you will hear the cries of your citizens demonstrating for peace; the whispers of families longing for security…The emblem of the United Nations bears not the laurel wreath of a victor, but the olive wreath of a peacemaker.“

But its legitimacy is fragile

Guterres highlighted the Council’s successes over eight decades, from helping Cambodia emerge from genocide to supporting South Africa’s transition from apartheid and deploying missions in Sierra Leone, East Timor and Liberia.

However, its legitimacy remains fragile, he stressed, noting that Violations of the United Nations Charter by some Member States erode trust and put global stability at risk.

Called for and expanded membership to better reflect the demographics of the world, including permanent representation for Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Guterres also encouraged discussions on proposals to limit the use of the veto.

Russia: divisive Western powers

Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia praised the UN’s achievements but warned against actions by Western powers.

“In an effort to maintain its waning influence, the West divided the world into ‘us’ and ‘them’ – ‘democracies’ and ‘autocracies’ – a group of those who are elected and those who violate the imposed order,” he said.

As a result, many of the principles of the United Nations Charter remain concepts, not reality. The “adventures” – from the invasion of Iraq and the color revolutions to the recent invasion of Iran – have only led to tragedy, he said.

Guyana: reform now

Guyana’s ambassador, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, echoed calls for reform and described the current configuration of the Council as unrepresentative.

“The Security Council must be reformed. Despite the expansive breadth of the UN’s work, the reality is that this success or failure of the United Nations as a whole is judged largely through the action, or lack thereof, of the Security Council,” he said.

He called for permanent seats for Africa and Latin America and a rotating seat for small island developing States, emphasizing that national interest and international cooperation are complementary.

United States: the UN “has lost its way”

The United States, represented by Ambassador Dorothy Shea, focused on accountability. He said the UN had become a “bloated bureaucracy” that had lost its way and demanded mandates with clear policy objectives and measurable benchmarks.

“The UN should serve member states rather than beholden to an unaccountable bureaucracy,” he said.

Regarding the next Secretary General, Ambassador Shea said the United States seeks a leader who will restore the UN to its founding purpose, respecting state sovereignty and prioritizing accountability and transparency.

He added that the selection process should be based on merit and select candidates from all regional groups, and that the next Secretary-General should “return the United Nations to its origins and, in doing so, help achieve the bold vision of peace and prosperity to which we all committed ourselves.”

A humble urn

At the beginning of the meeting, the UN chief recalls a notable moment from the UN’s early days: the first Security Council ballot box in 1946. To everyone’s surprise, inside was already a piece of paper: a note from Paul Antonio, a local New York mechanic who had made the box.

“May I, who have had the privilege of making this ballot box, cast the first vote? May God be with every member of the United Nations Organization and, through their noble efforts, bring lasting peace to all of us, throughout the world,” Mr. Antonio wrote.

“Paul Antonio, the mechanic, never sat at this table. He never gave a speech or signed a treaty,” Guterres told the ambassadors.

“But he believed in everyone here. He believed in you. I urge you: honor that trust. Make this chamber worthy of the hopes of every man, woman and child.”