Today, however, great powers frequently violate UNSC peace mandates, transforming the Security Council into a battleground for power politics rather than a guardian of collective security. While the Charter’s ideals of equality and collective enforcement remain aspirational, practice is heavily influenced by superpower rivalry and self-interest. Global shifts since 1945 have underscored the limitations of the UN Security Council veto in a multipolar world. This concentration of veto power entrenches the power structures of 1945, despite the P5’s outdated representation. Ultimately, reforming the UN Security Council veto must address the paradox of a mechanism designed to safeguard great-power consensus that now routinely allows narrow national interests to undermine collective security.

Source: Ethiopian News January 11, 2026 16:32 UTC