Foreign Ministers of the G4 countries – Brazil, Germany, India and Japan – have called for an early and comprehensive reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), stressing that the Council’s current structure does not reflect contemporary geopolitical realities.
The G4 Foreign Ministers – Brazil’s Mauro Vieira, Germany’s Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Johann David Wadephul, India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar and Japan’s Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu – met in New York on September 22 on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
During the meeting, the ministers reviewed discussions on UNSC reform under the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) framework during the 80th UNGA session and discussed the broader prospects for reform.
The ministers underlined that UNSC reform has become more necessary than ever amid an increasingly challenging geopolitical environment. They noted that the Council is currently unable to effectively discharge its core responsibility of maintaining international peace and security, with its representativeness, legitimacy, credibility and efficacy coming under question.
According to the G4, a key underlying reason is the Council’s eight-decade-old structure, which does not adequately reflect contemporary geopolitical realities and has become an impediment to addressing present and future challenges related to international peace and security.
The ministers emphasised the need to implement UNSC reform at the earliest to make the Council fit for purpose and ensure that it reflects present-day geopolitical realities.
G4 backs expansion in both categories of UNSC membership
The G4 ministers stressed that expansion of the Security Council in both the permanent and non-permanent categories of membership should remain central to the reform process. They said this position is supported by a majority of UN Member States.
They also emphasised the need for greater representation of underrepresented and unrepresented regions and groups, including Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean, in both categories of membership.
The ministers highlighted the importance of addressing historical underrepresentation in the Security Council while also enhancing the participation of Member States that make significant contributions to maintaining international peace and security and advancing other purposes of the United Nations.
Support for Africa’s representation
The G4 welcomed the presentation of the African Group’s reform model during the IGN discussions in the 80th UNGA session.
The ministers reiterated their support for Africa’s case for enhanced representation in the Security Council, including representation in the permanent category of membership.
Concern over lack of progress in reform talks
The G4 expressed concern over what they described as the limited effectiveness of the IGN framework in producing concrete outcomes towards meaningful UNSC reform despite 18 years of discussions.
They also expressed strong concern over the lack of progress during the previous IGN session and raised serious reservations about the presentation of a so-called bridging proposal before the commencement of text-based negotiations.
The ministers said the proposal did not take into account the views of a clear majority of Member States supporting expansion of the Security Council in both permanent and non-permanent categories.
They also recalled that, under the UN Charter and the mandate of the IGN, consensus is not the benchmark for decision-making on Security Council reform.
G4 to work with other reform-oriented groups
Looking ahead, the G4 said they would further collaborate with other reform-oriented groups and identify areas of synergy with the aim of developing a consolidated model that reflects the views of a majority of Member States.
The ministers identified the commencement of text-based negotiations as a high priority for achieving substantive UNSC reform.
They said meaningful reform was essential to restoring the representativeness, legitimacy, credibility and efficacy of the Security Council and strengthening the multilateral system with the United Nations at its centre.
The G4 also reiterated that discussions on Security Council reform should not be confined to the IGN framework. They expressed willingness to engage with the wider UN membership through other forums, including the UN General Assembly.
G4 to maintain close coordination during 81st UNGA session
The ministers said Brazil, Germany, India and Japan share common political values, including a commitment to multilateralism, the rule of law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.
They also highlighted their willingness and stated capability to shoulder the Security Council’s primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security.
The four countries will continue close coordination during the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. Officials from the four countries have been tasked with following up on the discussions, with progress to be reviewed at the next Director General-level meeting in New Delhi.
