Question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Security Council

Statement delivered by H.E. Jeem Lippwe, Permanent Representative

October 22, 2026

Mr. President,

The question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council is not merely a procedural item on our agenda; it is a fundamental test of this organization’s relevance in the 21st century.

The world of 1945, when the United Nations was founded, no longer exists. The world of 1965, when the Council was last expanded to include non-permanent members, is also a distant memory.

Today, the Council’s structure remains frozen in a bygone era, failing to reflect contemporary geopolitical realities. This structural deficit undermines the Council’s legitimacy, erodes public trust, and compromises its primary responsibility under the UN Charter: the maintenance of international peace and security.

To restore credibility to this vital organ, we must address the Geographical Underrepresentation and the Expansion of Both Categories. It is an unacceptable historical injustice that entire continents remain structurally marginalized. Africa possesses no permanent seat despite being the focus of much of the Council’s agenda. Latin America and the Caribbean, alongside dynamic regions of Asia-Pacific, are severely underrepresented in the permanent category. Micronesia reaffirms its support for the expansion in the permanent category for Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan in a reformed Security Council. We must expand both permanent and non-permanent seats. Expanding non-permanent seats is vital to ensure that the Council benefits from the diverse perspectives of small and developing nations.

Mr. President,

A reformed Council must also adapt to an expanded definition of security. Climate change is no longer a distant environmental concern; it is an existential, physical threat to global stability. For the smallest among our UN members, particularly Small Island Developing States (SIDS), rising sea levels and extreme weather are immediate threats to their very territorial integrity and survival. When a nation faces the physical loss of its homeland, climate change becomes a paramount security issue. A Council that lacks adequate, permanent representation for these vulnerable regions cannot effectively address the defining security challenges of our age.

Reform cannot stop at numbers alone. We must also address the working methods of the Security Council, including enhancing transparency, accountability, and engagement with the wider membership. The Council must become more transparent, more responsive, and more accountable to the General Assembly.

The slow pace of the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) process can no longer serve as an excuse for inaction. We call on all Member States to engage in text-based negotiations with flexibility and a shared sense of urgency. Let us commit to a reformed Security Council that is truly representative, legitimate, and capable of protecting the most vulnerable among us.

Thank you, Mr. President.