Pedro Sánchez Calls for UN Reform to Prevent a New World War

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez warned that the world has begun accepting war as inevitable, publishing an essay titled “The Last Chance for Peace for the World” in [Foreign Affairs].

The Socialist leader called for a radical overhaul of the United Nations and a new approach he termed “maxilateralism” to prevent a global catastrophe.

The essay marks a stark pivot for Sánchez as his party faces a sharp decline in opinion polls ahead of Spain’s early general election scheduled for November 29, 2026.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is scheduled to travel to Madrid to support the Spanish leader in the final days of campaigning, aligning with proposals originating from the Global South.

Sánchez traces the erosion of global stability back to the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, which he identifies as the turning point that sidelined international peace efforts. He argues that geopolitical competition and indifference have replaced the multilateral guardrails that previously prevented large-scale conflict.

“[The] path leads to a new world war… Even more unsettling is the return of the threat of nuclear war,” Sánchez wrote, pointing to automated attacks by artificial intelligence on critical infrastructure like power grids and hospitals.

The Spanish Prime Minister contends that armed conflicts have surged to levels unseen since 1946, citing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Middle East fighting involving Iran, Lebanon, Yemen, and Sudan. Domestically, Sánchez defends his administration’s positions, including recognizing the Palestinian state, imposing arms embargoes on Israel, and resisting demands from NATO to raise military spending to 5 percent of GDP.

To reverse these trends, Sánchez proposes abolishing the UN Security Council veto power held by the five permanent members and expanding its elected seats to grant greater representation to Africa and Latin America. He argues that the current structure, established by World War II victors representing just a quarter of the global population, no longer reflects modern realities.

“A Security Council with permanent seats and veto power for the five World War II victor powers… does not reflect today’s world,” Sánchez wrote, adding that leadership positions at the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank should no longer be automatically reserved for Europeans and Americans.

While Sánchez focuses on international diplomacy, domestic polls show his Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party trailing the conservative opposition. Data published by [El Mundo] on November 13, 2026, places the Popular Party at 30.8 percent with up to 132 seats, ahead of the Socialists at 25.3 percent and up to 108 seats.

The right-wing bloc, including the Vox party polling at 19.6 percent, could secure between 189 and 202 parliamentary seats, surpassing the 176 needed for an absolute majority. A concurrent poll by [El País] and Cadena Ser confirmed similar projections, showing potential losses for the Socialists as the country approaches the November 29 vote.