The Prime Minister of Japan, Sanae Takaichi, urged this Tuesday before the UN General Assembly in New York for a profound update of the current multilateral system and, in particular, for an "urgent" reform of the Security Council, understanding that its configuration remains anchored in the balance of power of 1945 and does not fit the contemporary international reality.
In her speech, she emphasized that it is not enough to increase the number of seats —both permanent and non-permanent— to reinforce the legitimacy and representativeness of the body, but she has presented the transformation of the Council as the first step towards a broader review of the functioning of the United Nations.
"The reform of the United Nations is essential," Takaichi stated, stressing that member states must share the responsibility of revitalizing an institution subjected to increasing "institutional fatigue."
In line with this approach, the Japanese head of government has also called for a review of the UN Charter, which —she recalled— has been in force for 81 years. Among the modifications she proposes is the elimination of references to the so-called "enemy states," in line with the resolution approved by the General Assembly in 2005.
Ukraine and the blockage of the Security Council
The war in Ukraine has been another of Japan's central arguments to justify the need to reform the international architecture. At this point, the leader warned that any attempt to alter the status quo by force or through coercion violates the principles of the Charter and "must not be tolerated anywhere in the world."
"Russia's aggression against Ukraine is the most obvious example," she indicated, recalling that Moscow, as a permanent member of the Security Council, has veto power and has resorted to it in matters related to its own actions.
"In this current situation, it must be said that the Security Council does not function for international peace," she reiterated, placing this blockage among the reasons that, in her opinion, make it essential to modify the composition and the way the body operates.
Hormuz, trade, and supply chains
The deterioration of the situation in the Middle East has also occupied a relevant part of her speech. Takaichi has expressed her concern about the worsening of maritime security and the economic impact of tensions in the area, with special attention to the Strait of Hormuz.
The leader has defended the need to guarantee "free and safe" navigation and has warned that interruptions in the flow of fuels, chemicals, medical supplies, and fertilizers are already being transferred to populations and the business fabric, increasing the risk of new food crises, especially in Africa and Asia.
In this context, Japan —she has pointed out— will continue to promote diplomatic efforts with other countries to favor de-escalation in the Middle East, insisting again on the importance of safeguarding international maritime order.
According to her, geopolitical tensions are weighing down global trade and destabilizing supply chains. In the face of "arbitrary restrictions" on exports, Tokyo proposes to strengthen economic resilience through alternative sources of supply and greater capacity for states to react to potential disruptions.
Within this approach, Japan aims to tighten international cooperation in energy and critical minerals, as well as to collaborate with producing countries to expand their extraction, refining, and processing capabilities.
Defense of free trade
In her intervention, Takaichi has also linked economic security with the protection of open markets, recalling the decisive role that international maritime routes have played for decades in Asia's takeoff and defending the continuity of a trade system without unjustified barriers.
The Prime Minister has lamented that the current geopolitical tensions are raising obstacles to free trade and disrupting global supply chains and energy supply. Therefore, she has advocated for a strategy that goes beyond diversifying suppliers and allows countries to develop a stronger resilience capacity against future crises.
This perspective is integrated into the Japanese concept of a free and open Indo-Pacific, presented as a framework to strengthen autonomy, resilience, and economic and security cooperation among the states of the region.
The nuclear threat and North Korea
The nuclear disarmament has been another of the axes of Sanae Takaichi's message before the General Assembly. In this area, the Japanese leader has claimed the historical experience of her country as "the only country that suffered atomic bombings during the (Second) World (War)" and has reiterated her commitment to non-proliferation.
"The catastrophic consequences of nuclear weapons must not be repeated," she emphasized, demanding to preserve and strengthen the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and to advance in concrete measures, such as greater transparency about arsenals and a deeper understanding of the effects of atomic bombings.
As an example of the risks associated with nuclear weapons, Takaichi has referred to the situation in Ukraine and North Korea, expressing her concern about the military cooperation between Russia and North Korea and about the possible transfer of capabilities related to nuclear and missile technologies.
In relation to Pyongyang, the leader has described its nuclear and missile programs, as well as its cyber operations —including the theft of cryptocurrencies to finance itself— as a serious threat to international peace. Consequently, Japan demands the full implementation of the Security Council resolutions and the denuclearization of North Korea.
Multilateralism in the face of shared challenges
Despite the criticisms made, the Prime Minister has defended that the United Nations remains the central tool to face the challenges that transcend national borders, such as maritime security, climate change, natural disasters, or the risks associated with artificial intelligence.
Her final message has revolved around the urgency of recovering the organization's response capacity to international crises and has insisted that the great current challenges cannot be effectively managed by a single country, thus claiming a more robust multilateralism.
"Now, more than ever, the flag of the United Nations must be upheld," she proclaimed, calling on member states to promote new norms and cooperation mechanisms, and reminding that the UN continues to be the only entity with sufficient reach to address certain problems on a truly global scale.
His proposal, he has summarized, involves a "more resilient and effective" organization, accompanied by a reform of the Security Council that reflects current international realities. Japan, he has assured, will continue to be actively involved in this process and will maintain its policy of contribution to global peace and prosperity.