UN Security Council open debate on “Reaffirming International Rule of Law: Pathways to Reinvigorating Peace, Justice, and Multilateralism”
Statement delivered by Dr. René Värk, Director of the Division of International Law, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia
New York, 26 January 2026
Mr. President,
Excellencies,
When states gathered in San Francisco in 1945 to create the United Nations, they set a goal to “establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained”.
Despite its flaws and despite the instances of the violations of international law, this order has served us well. It has delivered its purpose of preventing the World War Three; it holds the promise that sovereignty, territorial integrity, freedom and peace can be upheld through law; it provides hope for survival and protection against aggression. Especially for small states – that is over half of the United Nations membership – the rules-based world order is existential.
Unfortunately, this order has been under great strain already for years. For example, Russia – a permanent member of the Security Council – started with the annexation of Crimea, part of Ukraine, in 2014, and, for nearly four years, continues its illegal and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine, in violation of the prohibition of the use of force against another state’s territorial integrity and political independence. Power and coercion are increasingly threatening to substitute the commitment to shared norms and principles in international relations. In these pivotal times, we must recommit stronger than ever before to the values and goals enshrined in the United Nations Charter.
Let me underline three key aspects to maintain the international rule of law.
First, all states must abide by international law. The stability of the international community depends on the good-faith adherence of states to their obligations.
Second, the consistency in the application of international law is indispensable and fundamental to its authority. Without consistency, the international rule of law loses its normative power and creates the perceptions of double standards threatening to divide the international community.
Third, the responsibility for the violations of international law must be clearly recognised and addressed. Notably, the acts of aggression against sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of a state constitute violations of the rules at the very heart of the United Nations Charter. The failure to ensure responsibility for such violations also risks weakening the collective security system. In addition to the responsibility of states for their internationally wrongful acts, the international rule of law entails also individual responsibility for crimes under international law. Ensuring responsibility on both levels is a necessary step to uphold the principles of the United Nations Charter, to maintain or restore peace and justice, and to deter future violations.
Mr. President,
Let us commit to the international rule of law not only in words, but in actions. This is the only way to ensure peace and security for present and future generations.
Thank you.