Former Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said the United Nations Security Council is increasingly unable to fulfill its role as guardian of international peace because of the veto powers held by its permanent members.
During the interview, Justice Carpio described the veto mechanism as one of the greatest structural weaknesses of the modern international system. While the UN was established to prevent armed conflict and enforce international law, he argued that the Security Council often becomes immobilized whenever the interests of major powers are involved.
He pointed to ongoing crises in Ukraine, the South China Sea, and the Middle East as examples where geopolitical rivalries prevent meaningful collective action. According to Carpio, this paralysis weakens confidence in international institutions and encourages states to act unilaterally.
Justice Carpio suggested that reforming the voting structure of the Security Council—particularly the veto system—may eventually become necessary if the UN hopes to remain effective in maintaining global stability.
Key points:
- The Security Council is meant to preserve peace and stability
- Permanent members can veto action involving themselves or allies
- This blocks decisive action in Ukraine, the South China Sea, and the Middle East
- Carpio proposed replacing veto power with qualified majority voting
- Security Council deadlocks weaken enforcement of international law