Kuwait Renews Urgent Call for Comprehensive UN Security Council Reform

Kuwaiti Officials Advocate for Enhanced UN Effectiveness

Kuwait has reiterated its urgent call for comprehensive reform of the United Nations system, with a particular focus on the Security Council. This plea aims to bolster the organization's effectiveness, representativeness, and early-warning capabilities in addressing contemporary global challenges. The latest appeal came from Kuwait's Deputy Foreign Minister, Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, during an open debate of the UN Security Council titled 'The United Nations: Reflections on the Future' on October 25, 2025.

In his address, Sheikh Jarrah underscored the critical need for stronger adherence to international law and the principles enshrined in the UN Charter, advocating for their application 'without double standards or selectivity'. He outlined three key pillars for the future of the UN: structural reform, strengthening preventive diplomacy and conflict anticipation, and upholding the Charter's moral and legal integrity. The Deputy Foreign Minister also referenced the Security Council's pivotal role in Kuwait's 1991 liberation, describing it as a 'defining example' of the UN's capacity to uphold justice and legitimacy.

Calls for Greater Representation and Structural Changes

The demand for reform extends to making the Security Council more representative and democratic. Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, speaking at the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly on September 24, 2025, emphasized that the Council's composition must 'more accurately reflect the world we live in today'. He called for prioritizing Security Council reform to ensure 'justice, transparency, credibility and non-selectivity'.

Specific areas identified for reform include:

• Addressing the use of the veto power, with suggestions to restrict it to issues falling under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.
• Enhancing regional representation, particularly for small, Arab, and Muslim nations.
• Improving the relationship between the Security Council and the General Assembly.
• Revising working methods and the overall size of the Council.

These points were also highlighted by Kuwait's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Tareq Al-Banai, who, alongside Austria, has been co-facilitating efforts to reform the UN Security Council at the 89th plenary of the General Assembly on August 28, 2025. Ambassador Al-Banai stressed the importance of ensuring 'more effectiveness and broader justice in member states' representation' to strengthen the credibility of the system's resolutions and its response to global crises.

Ongoing Commitment to Multilateralism

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Yahya also reiterated the country's call for Security Council reform as part of a broader UN overhaul during a Security Council session on July 18, 2024. These consistent calls underscore Kuwait's enduring faith in multilateralism and the UN's mission, urging member states to renew their commitment to its founding principles to build a fairer, more peaceful, and cooperative world. The nation's diplomatic efforts reflect a long-standing belief that a reformed UN is essential for navigating the complex political, humanitarian, health, security, and environmental challenges facing the international community.