Annalena Baerbock, the President of the UN General Assembly, is calling for significant structural reforms to the UN Security Council. Speaking to Politico, she noted that the constant blockades within the Council are severely damaging the credibility of the entire United Nations. Baerbock stressed that a reform is long overdue, but its progress has stalled because the approval of the five permanent veto-wielding powers is required.
Despite these systemic blockages, Baerbock staunchly defended the UN against fundamental criticism, asserting that “no day would be better without the United Nations”. She argued that the organization was created precisely for times of crisis and must therefore remain operational even under difficult conditions.
In response to the Security Council’s paralysis, Baerbock highlighted the growing importance of the General Assembly. She pointed out that if a permanent member, such as Russia, does not want an issue like Ukraine debated in the Security Council, it can still be addressed through special sessions in the General Assembly. She cited the Gaza conflict as a parallel example, noting that “the pressure from the General Assembly finally brought movement last September”.
Regarding calls for entirely alternative multilateral structures, the former Foreign Minister rejected the idea. She stated, “The UN urgently needs to be reformed. But if they didn’t exist, we would have to reinvent them today”. Baerbock also cautioned that without the United Nations, essential functions such as humanitarian aid distribution, vaccination programs, and educational opportunities in crisis zones would cease.
