Overview
- General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock called the Security Council veto the “poster child” of global gridlock and warned it is eroding the UN’s credibility.
- The Assembly met under the 2022 Veto Initiative, which mandates a public debate within 10 working days of any veto but does not override Council decisions.
- Brazil’s ambassador labeled repeated veto use a “systemic failure,” urged more transparency, and endorsed the G4 model with new permanent members pledging not to use the veto for 15 years pending review.
- Pakistan’s envoy called for abolition or restraint of the veto, opposed creating new permanent seats in line with the UfC position, and proposed longer, re-electable non-permanent terms within the Charter framework.
- Speakers cited the US veto of a Gaza ceasefire resolution in June 2025 and Russia’s February 2025 veto on Ukraine-related amendments as examples of harmful paralysis, while acknowledging no consensus on structural reform.