Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva sharply criticised the five permanent members of the UN Security Council — the United States, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom — accusing them of abandoning their founding mandate to preserve peace and instead becoming architects of war. Speaking at the "Fórum Democracia Sempre" (Democracy Always Forum), a gathering of roughly 20 predominantly left-leaning world leaders in Barcelona, Spain, Lula cited unilateral military actions in Iraq, Ukraine, Iran, Venezuela, Libya, and Gaza as evidence that the UN no longer serves the purpose for which it was created. The remarks underscore growing frustration among Global South leaders with the paralysis and perceived illegitimacy of the Security Council, with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez echoing the call for UN reform at the same event.