(VOVWORLD) -Brazil, the host of the G20 Summit this year, has criticized the United Nation’s ineffectiveness and called for drastic reform at a meeting of the G20’s Foreign Ministers in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday.
 G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting opens in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Feb 21, 2024. (Photo: Bruna Prado/AP)
|
Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira said that there is a record number of ongoing conflicts in the world, more than 170, while geopolitical tensions continue to rise. He added that this reflects the inadequacies of many global governance institutions which should be strongly reformed, especially the UN.
“Multilateral institutions are not adequately equipped to deal with current challenges, as demonstrated by the unacceptable paralysis of the Security Council in relation to ongoing conflicts. The situation has been costing innocent lives,” said Vieira.
 Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira speaks at the G20’s Meeting (Photo: Reuters/Ricardo Moraes) |
The Brazilian Foreign Minister said that reforming the UN and a number of multilateral organizations, such as the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank has the highest priority during Brazil’s G20 presidency this year.
Vieira echoed Brazilian President Lula da Silva who said at the African Union Summit in Ethiopia on February 18 that the UN Security Council should increase the number of permanent members from the current five countries to include more representatives from Africa, Latin America, Japan, India, Germany or Brazil.
He said it’s time for the UN Security Council to end the mechanism of five permanent members (the US, the UK, France, Russia, and China) having veto rights and replace it with a majority vote mechanism.
At a meeting with United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday in Brasilia, the Brazilian President reiterated his request and received support from the US.