Dmitry Polyansky, the first deputy permanent representative of Russia to the United Nations, asserted that Washington cannot push through reforms to the UN Security Council without the backing of a clear majority of member states and the consent of all nations within the world body. The remarks were cited by TASS, the Russian news agency, and reflect a broader debate about altering the council’s structure and powers.
In a candid assessment, Polyansky argued that the United States has long recognized, in interviews and public discourse, that it lacks the unilateral leverage to reshape the Security Council absent broad, multilateral agreement. He emphasized that the permanent members and a substantial majority of UN members would need to endorse any significant change, underscoring the council’s deeply entrenched governance framework.
The diplomat noted that the current intergovernmental negotiation process on Security Council reform has spanned nearly two decades and has yet to produce a final, universally accepted blueprint. He suggested that the path to reforms would likely entail amendments to the UN Charter, a step that would require extensive consensus across the organization and ratification by its member states.
Polyansky stressed that any decision on reform must receive the approval of all countries involved. He warned that bypassing any state could trigger a split within the United Nations, undermining the collective legitimacy and effectiveness that the organization seeks to maintain in a volatile international environment.
Earlier, Dmitry Peskov, the official spokesman for the Russian president, remarked that transforming the Security Council is necessary to boost its effectiveness, contingent on broad agreement among all participants. The call for reform aligns with a general push for greater legitimacy and representativeness in global governance institutions.
On September 18, White House strategic communications coordinator John Kirby indicated that the issue of changing the UN Security Council’s architecture would be taken up by President Joe Biden in the near term. From the White House perspective, the Council should be more inclusive and comprehensive in its membership and approach. Media outlets cited in related coverage noted that Biden reportedly advocates the inclusion of five or six new permanent members, with possibilities frequently mentioned for India, Brazil, Germany, and Japan as potential additions.
In recent months, Russian officials have reiterated their position that Security Council reform should be approached with caution and backed by broad international consensus, reflecting the complex balance of power and the long-standing principle of equal sovereignty among UN members.