Guterres Urges Security Council to Invest in Peace, Not War

Guterres Urges Security Council to Invest in Peace, Not War

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on the Security Council to redirect resources often spent on war toward development and peace.

He made the appeal during an open debate on the future of the United Nations on Friday, held to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the UN’s founding.

Recalling a historic moment from the Council’s early days, Guterres said that in the spring of 1946, the first ballot box of the Security Council was opened before voting, and to everyone’s surprise, a slip of paper was already inside. It carried a message from the box’s maker, a local New York mechanic named Paul Antonio, who wished for lasting peace worldwide.

“That humble note reminds us why the Security Council exists: for people — sincere, hopeful people who, for the last eight decades, have placed their trust in this institution to save them from the scourge of war,” he said.

“The privilege to sit at this table carries a duty, above all, to honour that faith — and to channel resources so often spent on war to the causes of development and peace,” Guterres added.

He acknowledged that the Council has delivered on that mandate on many pivotal occasions, preventing the chaos of major-power conflicts over the past eight decades.

“The Council is a vital necessity and a powerful force for good. Yet its legitimacy is fragile. Too often, members act outside the principles of the UN Charter — principles freely agreed to as sovereign nations,” he said.

“When that happens, it stalls action, erodes trust in the UN, and puts everyone at risk. When one nation flouts the rules, others may follow, and history shows where that road leads,” he warned.

Guterres emphasised that reform of the Security Council is imperative and long overdue, including expanding membership to better reflect global realities.

He cited Africa as an example, where nearly half of all UN peacekeeping operations and many special political missions are conducted, yet the continent has no permanent representation on the Council.

“The time has come to open the doors of the Security Council and let in the light. Without a Council fit for purpose, the world faces grave danger,” he said.

“It is our duty to forge a body capable of meeting the challenges of the next 80 years — delivering justice and safety for all,” he added.

“Paul Antonio the mechanic never sat at this table. He never gave a speech or signed a treaty. But he believed in everyone here. He believed in you. I urge you: honour that trust and make this chamber worthy of the hopes of every man, woman, and child.”