Topic: 2026 – Clarification of Article 51
Country: Belarus
Delegate Name: Charlisa Penzak
Special Committee on the United Nations Charter
Clarification of Article 51
Republic of Belarus
Charlisa Penzak
Groves High School
The Republic of Belarus recognizes the importance of Article 51’s self-defense provision in the UN Charter which enables countries to use force to defend their national security. However, the uncertainty arises in what constitutes “self-defense” that could trigger an Article 51 invocation. This issue is of particular concern to Belarus, particularly in the European context, as the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has significant implications for regional stability and for Belarus’s own security. Both Ukraine and Russia have cited Article 51 to justify their operations.
Belarus supports international sovereignty and generally believes that nations should exercise caution and restraint regarding potential military actions. However, Belarus stresses that the interpretation of Article 51 must remain consistent with the principles of the UN Charter, including respect for human rights, freedom, and self-determination. When there is violence and repression committed, member states have an obligation to uphold these values and defend against aggressors. For example, Ukraine has refused to recognize the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk (pro-Russia regions) for decades and suppressed its ethnic Russian population through military attacks on civilian spaces, discrimination, critical supply blockades, and human rights violations. As a result, Russia’s special military operation could be considered an act of defense for the Russian minority in Ukraine. Furthermore, expansions of NATO and efforts by the west to turn Ukraine into its proxy directly threaten Belarussian and Russian security. From this perspective, Russia’s actions are regarded as precautionary measures aimed at safeguarding regional security.
Though Belarus is especially concerned about the Article 51 pretext for the special military operation in Ukraine, these principles apply broadly in situations around the globe. Overall, the Republic of Belarus supports a broader interpretation of the inherent right to self-defense under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, one that reflects the nature of contemporary threats that may not fit traditional definitions of an “armed attack” but violate international law regardless. A broader interpretation may encompass cyber threats, hybrid warfare, and aggression from non-state actors and allow nations to take appropriate defensive measures. Belarus believes that self-defense should extend to entities whose sovereignty may not be universally recognized but whose security is directly threatened, such as the Luhansk and Donetsk regions that require military and humanitarian protection. Belarus further supports preventative measures in the face of aggression, as well as the protection of populations beyond a state’s own territorial borders. Belarus advocates for a lower threshold in defining what constitutes an “armed attack,” so nations can respond decisively to threats without delay. Furthermore, Belarus supports unilateral discretion in determining the necessary measures of self-defense, enabling prompt action to safeguard national interests and populations in accordance with national security.
Belarus is hopeful that this committee can work together to clarify Article 51 in a manner that upholds self-determination and protects vulnerable populations.
Works Cited:
https://www.mfa.gov.by/en/press/statements/d3e236137ef40de9.html
https://lieber.westpoint.edu/russia-special-military-operation-claimed-right-self-defense/
