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Delegations use WWII commemoration to call for stronger multilateralism, UN reform and nuclear disarmament
Summary
Several member states used the UN commemorative meeting to press for reforms to the UN system, increased support for peacekeeping and renewed nuclear disarmament efforts, with some speakers citing global military spending and the need to reorient resources.
Delegations addressing the General Assembly on the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War repeatedly tied remembrance to contemporary policy priorities, including UN reform, stronger multilateral cooperation and nuclear disarmament.
Speaking on behalf of Australia, Canada and New Zealand, the representative for New Zealand called on member states to "seize the opportunity to advance meaningful, lasting reform" so the United Nations can meet present challenges. Japan reiterated that the UN must reform, including changes to the Security Council, to improve collective capacity. China said the UN must keep pace with the times and cautioned against selective use of the organization.
Costa Rica linked commemoration to urgent disarmament goals, arguing that a small fraction of global military spending could instead be directed to development and humanitarian needs; the delegation cited Stockholm International Peace Research Institute data saying 2024 global military spending exceeded $2,700,000,000,000. Several delegations — including Japan, Kazakhstan and Costa Rica — urged renewed work on nuclear disarmament, referencing the Nuclear Non‑Proliferation Treaty and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as parts of the legal framework.
Speakers also called for sustained political and financial backing for UN peace operations and for educational programs that preserve historical memory. Togo and Ethiopia urged the General Assembly to pursue reforms to make the Security Council and the wider UN system more representative and responsive to contemporary threats.
No single reform package was adopted at the commemorative meeting; the statements add to an ongoing diplomatic record ahead of follow‑up processes linked to the UN 80/pact for the future initiatives and to the Summit of the Future.
