Sanchez calls for UN shake-up and fairer voice for regions around the world
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called for major reforms to the United Nations on Wednesday, including the appointment of a female secretary-general, an end to permanent members' Security Council veto and fairer regional representation.
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Sanchez said the organisation had never been led by a woman in its 80-year history and argued that the next secretary-general should be a Latin American woman.
He also called for stronger UN institutions, greater resources for the International Criminal Court and renewed efforts towards nuclear disarmament.
Sanchez urged tighter regulation of social media and artificial intelligence, arguing that protecting future generations should take priority over the interests of what he called “tech oligarchs”. His government has separately pushed for stronger global rules governing AI and greater accountability for technology companies.
Turning to Spanish foreign policy, Sanchez highlighted Madrid's opposition to wars of aggression, its arms embargo on Israel and its refusal to commit to spending five per cent of GDP on defence.
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He also addressed the migration crisis in Ceuta, saying security could be maintained without treating migrants as enemies or abandoning international law and human rights. His government has previously acknowledged the severity of the crisis while stressing the protection of human life and migrants' rights.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
