The responsibility of upholding and enforcing the mandate of international peace and security is bestowed upon the permanent members (P-5) of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). However, as they simultaneously trade arms with human rights violating states, they engage in war profiteering. In fact, the P-5 are among the largest global arms exporters in the world and leverage their UNSC veto power to profit from the perpetuation of war. Unfortunately, the existing international legal instruments, such as the Arms Trade Treaty, have proven to be ineffective in ensuring compliance with global standards of behavior in the international arms trade. As the P-5 exhibits a moral and political will to engage in war profiteering, the effectiveness of the global governance system in protecting the most vulnerable global citizens becomes compromised.
Written by Mackenzie Birbrager Edited by Nour Mohsen
