Finland's president proposes expelling Russia from UN Security Council

Finnish President Alexander Stubb has called for reforms to the UN Security Council, advocating for its expansion, the elimination of the single-state veto, and the suspension of any member involved in "illegal wars," such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Leading Finland's foreign policy, Stubb announced he would support these reform efforts during the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York, where discussions about the Security Council’s composition will take place. The council, consisting of five permanent and 10 rotating members, is responsible for maintaining global peace but has often been paralyzed by geopolitical tensions, particularly over conflicts like those in Ukraine and Gaza, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

In an interview on September 17, Stubb proposed increasing the number of permanent members from five to 10, with additional seats for Latin America, Africa, and Asia—one for Latin America, two for Africa, and two for Asia. "No single state should have veto power in the UN Security Council," Stubb said. 

The US, one of the five veto-wielding members alongside Russia, China, France, and Britain, has also supported the idea of two permanent seats for African nations. Stubb also argued that any country waging an illegal war, "like Russia in Ukraine," should be removed from the council. Russia has justified its actions in Ukraine by claiming it is defending itself from Western aggression and reclaiming historically Russian territory. 

Stubb acknowledged that his proposals go "beyond what is typically suggested by smaller nations," but emphasized that major powers are unlikely to voluntarily reduce their influence. "They talk the talk, but don’t walk the walk," he said, expressing hope that others would support these reforms in time for the UN's 80th anniversary next year. Any changes to the Security Council would require the approval of two-thirds of the General Assembly, including agreement from the five veto-holding members. 

By Naila Huseynova