Japan has firmly rejected Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s assertions that Japan is on a path toward militarization and should not be granted a permanent seat on a reformed United Nations Security Council. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara countered Lavrov’s statements, asserting that they are not based on facts. Kihara emphasized that Japan has consistently upheld principles of freedom, democracy, and the rule of law since the end of World War II and has made significant contributions to economic and social development across Asia and beyond.
Lavrov, during his comments, supported the idea of permanent Security Council membership for Brazil and India but opposed similar status for Japan and Germany. Japan has been actively pursuing a permanent seat on the Security Council, having served as a nonpermanent member 12 times, with its most recent term concluding in 2024.
The discussion over Japan’s potential permanent membership comes amid broader calls for reforming the Security Council, which currently includes five permanent members: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, all of which hold veto power. The debate on restructuring the council reflects ongoing international discourse on how best to represent the changing dynamics and power structures in global governance.