UN backs PM Modi’s call for urgent Security Council reform, says 1945 structure no longer fits 2026

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for urgent reform of the UN Security Council, with his spokesperson saying the Council’s current structure no longer reflects the realities of the 21st century.

Responding to Modi’s remarks at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said there was a fundamental need to reform the Security Council and other international institutions.

“I think if you listen to what the Secretary-General has been saying, since he got into office and, frankly, his predecessor as well, is that there is a fundamental need for reform of the Security Council,” Dujarric told ANI on Saturday.

He said the Security Council, which sits at the heart of the UN’s global peace and security architecture, continues to reflect an arrangement created in 1945 rather than the geopolitical realities of 2026.

“The fact that you look at the way the Council is made up now, of the 5 permanent members, it is no longer a reflection of the 21st century,” Dujarric said.

He added that the Security Council, international financial institutions and other global bodies needed to adapt to contemporary realities to become more representative and effective.

“It is high time that we adapt this organisation to the realities of the world so it is truly representative and even more effective,” he said.

Modi pushes for a more representative global order

Modi had made Security Council reform a central part of his call for restructuring global governance during a BRICS session on inclusive global governance and strengthening multilateralism.

Describing the existing global governance system as a “pyramid”, the Prime Minister said decision-making remained concentrated at the top even though countries at the receiving end of global decisions often had little influence over them.

He said the Global South was frequently at the forefront of global crises but remained in the “back row” when major international decisions were taken.

Modi proposed replacing what he called a “pyramid of privilege” with a “platform of partnership” in which countries have a meaningful voice and stake in global decision-making.

He also proposed that BRICS countries jointly prepare 10 proposals for global governance reform, which could be developed into a BRICS Reform Roadmap at the next summit.

The roadmap, he said, should focus on representation, responsiveness and rule-making.

On representation, Modi said reform of the UN Security Council could “no longer be delayed”, calling for text-based negotiations to be linked to a fixed timeframe and clear outcomes.

BRICS backs greater Global South representation

The New Delhi Declaration adopted at the 18th BRICS Summit echoed India’s call for a more representative international system.

BRICS reaffirmed its commitment to reforming global governance and called for a system that is more equitable, representative, democratic, responsive and accountable.

The grouping said the international architecture must adapt to contemporary realities while continuing to uphold international law and the principles of the UN Charter.

It also called for greater participation of emerging markets, developing countries and Least Developed Countries in global decision-making, particularly from Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean.

On the UN Security Council, BRICS backed comprehensive reform aimed at making the body more democratic, representative, effective and efficient, with greater representation for developing countries.

“We stress that the UN Security Council reform is to lead to the amplified voice of the Global South,” the declaration said.

BRICS also recognised the aspirations of African countries reflected in the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration.

China and Russia, the two permanent members of the UN Security Council within BRICS, reiterated their support for the aspirations of India and Brazil to play a greater role in the UN, including the Security Council.

BRICS flags imbalance in top UN positions

The declaration also highlighted concerns over the distribution of senior positions within the UN system.

BRICS called for equitable geographical representation in the UN Secretariat and other international organisations, particularly at senior and decision-making levels.

It also called for greater participation of women, especially from emerging market and developing countries, in international leadership positions.

The grouping said the selection of UN executive heads and senior officials should be transparent and inclusive, arguing that there should be “no monopoly on senior posts in the UN system by nationals of any State or group of States.”

On the selection of the next UN Secretary-General, BRICS noted that no woman has ever held the position through election, while representation from regions such as Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa and Asia has remained limited.

India seen as a potential bridge builder

Dujarric also said Guterres sees India as having an important role in addressing conflicts and facilitating dialogue between opposing sides.

The UN chief discussed global conflicts, including the situations in the Middle East and Ukraine, with Modi during their meeting on Friday.

“The Secretary-General thinks that India has a big role to play as a bridge builder, as a way to help the fighting sides communicate and reach a peaceful settlement,” Dujarric said.

He also congratulated Modi on India’s BRICS presidency, saying the adoption of a joint declaration reflected positively on India’s leadership of the grouping.

Reform agenda extends beyond the UN

The BRICS declaration went beyond Security Council reform, calling for changes to the global economic and trade architecture as well.

The grouping said the Bretton Woods Institutions should become more representative of the changing global economy and called for greater voice and representation for emerging market and developing economies in the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

It also reaffirmed support for reform of the World Trade Organisation and called for a stronger and more inclusive rules-based trading system.

BRICS urged the immediate restoration of an accessible and fully functioning two-tier binding WTO dispute settlement mechanism and called for the appointment of new Appellate Body members without further delay.

The declaration also criticised unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures that distort trade and opposed unilateral coercive measures and sanctions not authorised by the UN Security Council.

Dujarric said many of the issues being raised by the Global South were already central to Guterres’ agenda, including development financing, equitable access to the benefits of artificial intelligence and reform of international institutions.

“A lot of the priorities that the Global South is talking about are the priorities the Secretary-General António Guterres has been talking about,” he said.

India is hosting the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13 under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”.