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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says U.N. playing ‘no role’ in resolving conflicts

February 14, 2026 5 min read International Relations GS2 (International Relations International Organisations)
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What Happened

  • US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, at the 62nd Munich Security Conference, stated that the United Nations has played "virtually no role" in resolving the world's most pressing conflicts, specifically citing its inability to resolve the Gaza war.
  • Rubio acknowledged that the UN "still has tremendous potential to be a tool for good in the world" while calling for institutional reform.
  • On transatlantic relations, Rubio struck a reassuring tone, stating the US does not seek to "separate" from Europe but to "revitalise" the alliance and that the two "belong together."
  • The speech reflects the Trump administration's broader scepticism of multilateral institutions while seeking to maintain key bilateral alliances.

Static Topic Bridges

United Nations Security Council — Structure, Veto Power, and Reform Debate

The UNSC is the UN's primary organ responsible for maintaining international peace and security, with the power to adopt binding resolutions. However, the P5 veto has increasingly paralysed the Council on major conflicts, fuelling calls for structural reform from countries like India, Brazil, Germany, and Japan (the G4 grouping).

  • UNSC composition: 5 permanent members (P5: US, UK, France, Russia, China) with veto power + 10 non-permanent members elected for 2-year terms by the General Assembly.
  • The veto power (Article 27 of the UN Charter) allows any P5 member to block any substantive resolution — it has been used over 300 times since 1945.
  • Russia and China have used the veto to block resolutions on Syria (16+ times since 2011) and the US has used it to block resolutions critical of Israel (over 50 times).
  • Reform proposals:
  • G4 (India, Brazil, Germany, Japan): Seek permanent seats with veto power.
  • Uniting for Consensus (led by Italy, includes Pakistan, South Korea, Mexico, Argentina): Oppose new permanent seats; propose semi-permanent seats with longer terms.
  • African Union (Ezulwini Consensus, 2005): Demand two permanent seats with veto power for Africa.
  • India's UNSC bid: Supported by the US (permanent membership), France, UK, and Russia; opposed by China (which blocks Japan's bid) and Pakistan (which opposes India's bid).
  • India has served as a non-permanent UNSC member eight times, most recently in 2021-22.

Connection to this news: Rubio's criticism of the UN's ineffectiveness, while stopping short of calling for US withdrawal, aligns with broader reform demands but also reflects a preference for bilateral and "minilateral" arrangements over multilateral frameworks — a trend that could both help and hinder India's UNSC reform aspirations.

Munich Security Conference — Forum for Global Security Dialogue

The Munich Security Conference (MSC) is the world's largest annual gathering of international security leaders, providing a platform for informal but high-level dialogue on global security challenges. Founded in 1963 during the Cold War, it has evolved from a primarily transatlantic forum to a global security dialogue.

  • Founded: 1963 by Ewald-Heinrich von Kleist-Schmenzin, a German publisher and former anti-Nazi resistance fighter.
  • Originally named: Wehrkundetagung (Conference on Military Science); renamed Munich Security Conference in 1998.
  • Held annually in February at Hotel Bayerischer Hof, Munich, Germany.
  • Attendees: Over 450 senior decision-makers including heads of state, foreign and defence ministers, military commanders, and security experts.
  • Format: No formal resolutions — operates as a "marketplace of ideas" for security policy.
  • India has increasingly participated at high levels, with External Affairs Ministers and National Security Advisors attending to articulate India's positions on Indo-Pacific security, terrorism, and multilateral reform.
  • The annual Munich Security Report, published ahead of the conference, provides a data-driven assessment of global security trends.

Connection to this news: The MSC serves as the primary venue where transatlantic security dynamics are negotiated and signalled. Rubio's speech at Munich — reassuring on alliance commitment but critical of multilateral institutions — sets the tone for US-Europe relations and has implications for India's multilateral engagement strategy.

Multilateralism vs Minilateralism — Evolving Global Governance

The tension between traditional multilateral institutions (UN, WTO, WHO) and newer "minilateral" groupings (QUAD, I2U2, AUKUS, G7) reflects a fundamental shift in global governance. While multilateral institutions provide legitimacy and universal membership, minilateral forums offer flexibility and faster decision-making among like-minded states.

  • Multilateral institutions under stress: WTO Appellate Body non-functional since December 2019 (US blocked appointments); WHO faced credibility questions during COVID-19; UNSC paralysed by P5 vetoes on Syria, Ukraine, Gaza.
  • Rise of minilateral groupings: QUAD (2007/2017), AUKUS (2021), I2U2 (2022), Minerals Security Partnership (2022) — all bypass UN structures.
  • India's approach: Active in both tracks — seeks UNSC permanent membership (multilateral) while participating in QUAD, I2U2, SCO, BRICS (minilateral/plurilateral).
  • US "selective multilateralism" under Trump: Withdrew from UNFCCC (Paris Agreement), UNHRC (first term), and WHO (first term); reduced UN funding; but maintained NATO, G7 engagement.
  • The "Pact for the Future" adopted at the UN Summit of the Future (September 2024) included commitments on UNSC reform, digital governance, and youth engagement — though implementation remains uncertain.

Connection to this news: Rubio's critique of the UN while affirming transatlantic alliance commitment exemplifies the trend towards selective multilateralism, where major powers engage with institutions when convenient but prefer flexible groupings for action — a dynamic India navigates by maintaining presence across both multilateral and minilateral forums.

Key Facts & Data

  • UNSC permanent members (P5): US, UK, France, Russia, China — each with veto power
  • UNSC non-permanent members: 10, elected for 2-year terms
  • Veto used: Over 300 times since 1945
  • India's UNSC non-permanent membership: 8 terms (most recent: 2021-22)
  • G4 (seeking permanent UNSC seats): India, Brazil, Germany, Japan
  • Munich Security Conference: Founded 1963; held annually in February; 450+ attendees
  • WTO Appellate Body: Non-functional since December 2019
  • UN Summit of the Future "Pact for the Future": Adopted September 2024