Marcos to UN: PH is a voice for principled peace

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday made a personal pitch for the Philippines’ candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations (UN) Security Council, saying the country is ready to contribute as a voice of balance among the world’s nations and as a “voice for principled peace.”

Marcos delivered a 23-minute speech at the special plenary session of the UN General Assembly in New York, where he touted Manila’s history of responding to the UN’s calls and its efforts to champion peace, women, climate resilience, refugees and migrants, among others.

He asked for their support for the Philippines’ bid for the UN Security Council, noting that in a time of profound global upheaval such as armed conflicts and geopolitical tensions, the world needs the UN Security Council “to not only reflect responsibility and power, it must also reflect perspective.”

“Always ready to be part of the solution, the Philippines has regularly proven itself to be an independent, trusted partner, an innovative pathfinder, and a committed peacemaker,” Marcos said.

The Philippines is eyeing a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2027 to 2028 term. The elections for this seat will be held on June 3, 2026.

The President stressed that amid mounting challenges and uncertainties, the UN “needs steady, committed, experienced hands” and that the Philippines offers itself as such.

“We lodged our candidature, mindful that a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council is not a right of any state, but a privilege earned through consistent, dedicated, meaningful, and concrete partnership in the service of the United Nations and also of humanity,” Marcos said.

“The Philippines stands ready once again to contribute, to help calm voices of division, provide a voice of balance, to shun ambition for service, and always as a voice for principled peace,” he added.

The last time that the country held a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council was from 2004 to 2005.

The UN Security Council is composed of five permanent members – China, France, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States – and 10 non-permanent members.

In his pitch before the UN General Assembly, Marcos stressed, among others, that the Philippines has always been vocal in supporting reforms to enable the UN to deliver on its mandates and lessen bureaucracy and fragmentation.

“Concerned over the UN’s current liquidity crisis and amidst strong resistance to multilateralism, we persist in our commitment to this august organization. We paid our regular budget assessments in full within the 30-day due period in January of this year, and we are proud to be included in the UN’s Honor Roll this year,” he said.

The President also expressed the Philippines’ stance in calling for restraint, de-escalation, and cessation of hostilities in areas of conflict such as the Middle East, Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Congo, Yemen, and Myanmar.

He noted that when the UN was created in 1945, the world’s nations vowed never to be cursed by a global catastrophe such as world wars.

“But watching events in Gaza, the Ukraine, Sudan, the Middle East, and in many other places, I cannot help but ask, are we succeeding? Or are we failing our ancestors who in 1945 forged this assembly out of shared anxiety, shared hope, and endeavor to fulfill humanity's aspirations for peace? Are we failing those who will succeed us?” Marcos asked.

The escalation of conflict in the Middle East – which began when the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran – has triggered surges in pump prices around the world and also endangered hundreds of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

He went on: “Then and now, we stand ready to do our part to stay the forces of war, to end conflict, to ease suffering…. These tragedies need to stop. Innocence must be protected, and their basic needs immediately provided. And for the wider region, the Philippines joins the international community in calling for restraint, de-escalation, and cessation of hostilities.” 

Marcos’ speech before the UN General Assembly’s special plenary session is the last item on his agenda in his two-day working visit to the United States. He will return to Manila on Tuesday afternoon, New York time. — With reports from Joseph Morong/JMA, GMA Integrated News