High-level Open Debate: Upholding the UN Charter and Strengthening the UN-Centred International System
On Tuesday (26 May), the Security Council will hold a high-level open debate on “Upholding the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter and Strengthening the UN-Centred International System” under the “Maintenance of international peace and security agenda item”. Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi will chair the meeting, during which UN Secretary-General António Guterres is expected to brief.
For at least the past decade, several Council members—particularly China and Russia—have chosen to convene open debates that focus on the UN Charter or multilateralism as signature events of their monthly presidencies. Meetings organised by China in this regard have included: “Practicing Multilateralism: Reforming and Improving Global Governance” on 18 February 2025; “Upholding Multilateralism and the UN-centred International System” on 7 May 2021; “Strengthening Multilateralism and the Role of the United Nations” on 9 November 2018; and “Reflect[ing] on history [and] reaffirm[ing] the strong commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the UN” on 23 February 2015.
Tuesday’s open debate takes place at a time of heightened uncertainty about the future of the multilateral system and ongoing mutual recriminations between the major powers about their failure to adhere to international law, including to the Charter, and the resulting adverse effects on vulnerable populations. The Security Council, the UN body entrusted with the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, is more divided now than at any point in the post-Cold War era, struggling in recent years to adequately address many pressing conflicts on its agenda—for example, Haiti, Gaza, Myanmar, Sudan, and Ukraine—notwithstanding the significant time and energy it devotes to these issues. Member states and regional organisations have increasingly taken on a leading role in diplomatic efforts to resolve crises in places like Gaza, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Sudan, largely sidelining the UN in these processes.
In preparation for the open debate, China has circulated a concept note that highlights four ways in which it believes the purposes and principles of the UN Charter are being challenged. These include:
- The volatility of the security environment, with a multitude of wars throughout the world;
- A “lack of trust globally”, with “widening divergences [between countries] in how they view security…leading to higher risks of strategic miscalculation”;
- A decrease in multilateral cooperation that hinders efforts to tackle global challenges; and
- The increased “use of double standards and selective application of international law”, which undermines the authority of the UN Charter.
Notwithstanding these challenges, the concept note concludes that “the world would only be worse” without the UN and that actions need to be taken to consolidate the world body’s “leading role and improve its governance through reform, so that it can better adapt to the needs of the times and respond more effectively to the expectations of Member States”.
The concept note poses several questions to help guide the discussion, including:
- How can we deliver on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter through concrete actions?
- How can we better uphold the authority and integrity of the UN Charter and avoid double standards and selective application?
- How can we more firmly uphold the UN-centred international system, support the UN in playing a central role in international affairs, and adapt it to new problems and challenges?
- How can we enhance the authority and effectiveness of the Security Council, strengthen solidarity and cooperation among its members, and improve its capacity to address global threats and challenges?
Council members consistently affirm their commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. Nonetheless, contrasting views regarding which countries adhere to the values of the Charter are likely to be on display during the open debate. China and Russia have consistently emphasised respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and criticised what they view as the selective application of international law. In this regard, they, along with several other UN member states, have been highly critical of recent US military actions, including in Venezuela and Iran, describing them as clear violations of the UN Charter. Several member states, in turn, continue to condemn Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine as a grave breach of the Charter. They may reiterate their views in this regard during the open debate.
Some Council members and the wider UN membership may call for enhanced efforts by the Council, and the UN system more generally, to promote the peaceful settlement of disputes. In this regard, resolution 2788 of 22 July 2025, which was authored by Pakistan, urges member states to effectively utilise the UN Charter’s mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes, such as negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and judicial settlement. In addition, the UN’s role in peacemaking is a prevailing concern of the wider UN membership. This was evident in member states’ questions to candidates running for the UN Secretary-General position in the General Assembly’s interactive dialogues in April.[i]
As well, different views may be expressed during the open debate on which elements of the UN Charter to promote most assiduously. Some may emphasise, for example, that the UN system could do a better job of integrating the three pillars of the UN Charter—peace and security, development, and human rights—in carrying out its efforts to promote the security and welfare of vulnerable populations. Others, particularly the US, might underscore that the UN needs to go “back to basics” and focus more intensively on core peace and security tasks.
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[i] The four candidates at the time were: Michelle Bachelet, Rafael Mariano Grossi, Rebeca Grynspan, and Macky Sall.
