ANNUAL DEBATE ON THE USE OF THE VETO
Statement by H.E. James Larsen, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Australia to the UN
20 November 2025
Thank you, President
Australia is pleased to align with the group statement delivered by Liechtenstein.
In our national capacity, I would like to make the following remarks.
Australia’s opposition to the veto is longstanding and goes back to our involvement in the very earliest negotiations of the United Nations Charter.
In our view, the veto operates as a significant impediment to the Council’s ability to discharge its mandate.
And all of us have a responsibility to do what we can to make sure the Security Council is equipped to help the world solve the biggest problems of the day, delivering for the people who need it most.
And I can’t help but respond and refute the dismissive remarks made just a moment ago by our Russian colleague, on the Veto Initiative’s effectiveness.
Given the reality of the veto, it is all the more important that its use be transparent and, most importantly, voluntarily restrained.
This is why Australia has been a supporter of the Veto Initiative since its inception.
Looking ahead, we see three approaches which would help us further address the use of the veto:
First, we encourage the President of the General Assembly to take a more active role in deterring its use, including making concrete recommendations based on Assembly discussions of Security Council annual reporting.
Second, we call for a candid discussion amongst all member states, in recognition that the future of the veto is central to progressing reforms to enhance the Council’s efficiency and credibility.
Third, we reaffirm our support for exploring measures that assist Council Members to uphold Article 27 (3) of the United Nations Charter, which provides that ‘a party to a dispute shall abstain from voting’ in Council deliberations on a relevant matter.
Australia welcomes Lichenstein’s efforts to promote consistent application of Article 27 (3).
Finally, we are delighted that the most recent General Assembly revitalisation commits to the continued implementation of the Veto Initiative.
This, combined with the reaffirmation of the Charter based role of the General Assembly on matters related to the maintenance of peace and security and the call for all member states to refrain from any measures that impede action to prevent or end genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes, sends a powerful message about our collective focus on the use of the veto power.
President, Australia urges all permanent members of the Security Council to refrain from using the veto and calls on all Member States to join in implementing resolution 76/262.
Thank you.