UN Security Council unrepresentative: Russia's Lavrov

The UN Security Council badly needs reforms to better reflect the multipolar global realities, said Russia’s foreign minister on Thursday, echoing an argument made by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

"In the framework of the emerging multipolar world, new centers of economic growth, financial power and political influence have appeared,” Sergey Lavrov told a news conference in Sochi after meeting with Ayman al Safadi, Jordan’s foreign minister.

“Today, from 15 members of the Security Council -- five permanent and 10 non-permanent members -- one-third belong to the Western group of countries, which has three permanent and two non-permanent seats. This inadequately reflects the existing realities."

Asian, African, and Latin American countries are underrepresented on the council, he added, naming India and Brazil as strong candidates for an expanded, more representative body.

Turkey’s Erdoğan has made similar arguments for years, calling the current council’s composition unrepresentative, saying, “The world is greater than five,” meaning the council’s five permanent members.