Post-World War II System Ineffective, Brazil Calls for UN Security Council Reform

Archive. The UN Security Council (UNSC) meeting in New York in July 2024 discussed the UN verification mission in Colombia. (Wikimedia Commons-Official Photograph of the Presidency of Colombia)

JAKARTA - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has called for reforms to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), including the elimination of the veto rights held by the five permanent members.

According to him, the post-World War II international system is no longer effective today.

"It's time to redefine the United Nations to give it credibility," Lula said in an interview session published by Spanish daily El Pais on Thursday local time, quoted by AFP.

Lula also encouraged more countries from Africa and Latin America to join the UN Security Council.

The 80-year-old head of state said this was based on US President Donald Trump's behavior in leading the US war with Israel against Iran.

He harshly criticized Trump who threatened to destroy Iran until it returned to the "stone age" and intimidated US allies who refused to send warships to help US-Israeli military operations in the Middle East.

"Otherwise, Trump [behaves] correctly," he said about the push to reform the UN Security Council.

Lula spoke to the newspaper ahead of his visit to Spain, where he will meet with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and attend a forum of progressive leaders.

The forum is planned to take place in Barcelona on Saturday this week. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa are rumored to be in attendance at the forum.