The Charter of the United Nations contains a little-known provision which, although rarely discussed outside specialist circles, was conceived as a safeguard against the rigidity of the Charter should it require revision or amendment. Article 109 establishes the procedure for convening a General Conference of the Member States of the United Nations to review the Charter.
For decades, Article 109 remained a largely overlooked legal provision. Today, however, it has re-emerged as a reflection of broader questions concerning the adaptability, legitimacy and fragmentation of the current system of global governance. This renewed discussion has been driven by the efforts of the Article 109 Coalition, a civil society initiative bringing together, among others, former United Nations officials with the aim of encouraging Member States to convene a General Conference for the review of the Charter.
As a platform for strategic dialogue on foreign policy and security, BILAT views the Article 109 Coalition not merely as an initiative aimed at the possible review of the United Nations Charter, but as a strategic platform that reflects the growing need to rethink the institutions underpinning the international order.
Against this backdrop, BILAT has officially joined the Article 109 Coalition.
This decision reflects a strategic conviction. The debates that will shape the future architecture of the international system do not begin when institutions are formally reformed. They begin much earlier, when new networks, new coalitions and new ideas emerge to question whether existing institutional frameworks remain fit for purpose. Through its participation in the Coalition, BILAT seeks to contribute to this debate while strengthening strategic dialogue between Europe and South America.
Beyond Article 109
The debate surrounding Article 109 is often reduced to a single question: is it realistically possible to amend the Charter of the United Nations? It is a legitimate question, but arguably not the most important one.
From a strategic perspective, the more relevant question is why a growing number of actors believe it is necessary to reopen this discussion. When new international coalitions begin to form around a provision that remained largely dormant for decades, the phenomenon itself deserves careful attention, regardless of whether a formal revision of the Charter ultimately takes place.
For BILAT, the Article 109 Coalition represents a pressure point within the current international architecture. Not because it guarantees an imminent reform, but because it concentrates and brings into focus tensions that already exist and are likely to shape the evolution of the international order for years to come. In this sense, the Article 109 Coalition is far more than a legal initiative. It serves as an indicator of the current state of the international system.
An Opportunity for the Southern Cone to Help Shape the Future
Discussions on the future architecture of the international order are still largely confined to the traditional centres of power. Yet an international system that seeks to remain representative must also incorporate perspectives from regions that have historically had limited influence over its design.
For the Southern Cone, this represents both a strategic challenge and a significant opportunity. Too often, the region enters global debates only after the rules have already been established and the key decisions have already been taken. It is important to recognise that the institutions of the future will not emerge through traditional diplomacy alone. They will also be shaped by the ideas, networks and coalitions that are already beginning to define the global conversation.
Since its establishment, BILAT has worked to connect these debates with the Southern Cone. Our decision to join the Article 109 Coalition reflects that same vision. If the debate on the future evolution of the international order is already underway, the region should not remain a mere observer. It should help shape that debate before the window of opportunity closes.
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