In an address at the UN Security Council’s open debate on leadership for peace, President Charles Michel of the European Council highlighted the urgent need for reform and greater responsibility among the world’s most powerful nations.
“A new world is being born outside these windows,” Michel said, emphasizing a stark contrast between the peaceful aspirations of diplomacy and the “raw force and brute power” dominating global conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Sudan. “A world where the biggest gun, the sharpest knife, and the loudest voice win out, and the peaceful lose out.”
Reflecting on the role of the Security Council, Michel reminded attendees that holding a permanent seat is “not a privilege, it is a responsibility — a grave responsibility bestowed on only five nations: to be the guardians of world peace.” He criticized some current members for failing to uphold their obligations, suggesting that the foundational pact established in 1945 has been “under constant assault.”
Michel pointed to the escalating violence across the globe, stating, “Every bomb that falls in Kyiv, every hospital demolished in Gaza, every village destroyed in Sudan, each of these tragedies is one more attack on our humanity.” He argued that unpunished crimes lead to a normalization of violence and a loss of faith in justice, warning that this trend could create a more brutal world for future generations.
The president stressed the need for inclusive and effective reform of the Security Council, stating, “The worth of a nation — the worth of a community — is not measured by its capacity for violence, nor by the strength of its armies. The worth of a nation is measured by its willingness to lift others up.”
In addressing specific conflicts, Michel condemned the actions of both Russia and Hamas, stating, “When Russia invades Ukraine to wipe out Ukraine’s culture and language, this does not build Russia up; it tears Russia down in the eyes of the world.” He continued, criticizing the violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, underscoring the detrimental impact of violence on security and stability.
“Together, we can make a difference. Together, we can again change the course of history,” Michel concluded. He called on all permanent members of the Security Council to embrace their historic responsibilities, urging them to lead with courage and daring in the pursuit of peace.
