United Nations, New York – The United States has announced its support for creating two permanent seats for African states on the United Nations Security Council. This significant move comes as the US seeks to strengthen its ties with Africa and counter China’s growing influence in the Pacific region.
US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, made the announcement on Thursday, September 12. She emphasized the need for a more inclusive and representative Security Council that better reflects the world’s demographics and can effectively address contemporary challenges.
Beyond the African seats, the US has also reiterated its long-standing support for India, Japan, and Germany to secure permanent council positions. Furthermore, Washington has expressed support for permanent representation from Latin America and the Caribbean, though specific details remain unclear.
The push for additional permanent seats on the Security Council has been a longstanding demand from developing nations. However, decades of negotiations on reform have yielded little progress. The US, while backing the expansion, has made it clear that it does not support granting veto power to any new permanent members.
The Security Council, the most powerful body within the UN, is tasked with maintaining international peace and security. It has the authority to impose sanctions, arms embargos, and even authorize the use of force.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also been vocal about the need for Security Council reform. He has criticized the council’s current composition as outdated and ineffective, reflecting the post-World War II geopolitical landscape.
Any changes to the council’s membership would require an amendment to the UN Charter, a process that necessitates approval and ratification by two-thirds of the General Assembly, including the five current veto-wielding powers.
While discussions on Security Council reform have been ongoing for over a decade, recent geopolitical tensions, particularly Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, have intensified calls for change. Thomas-Greenfield announced that the US supports negotiations on a draft resolution to amend the UN Charter and reform the council.
However, the timeline for securing a vote on such a resolution remains uncertain.
In addition to the two permanent seats, the US has also advocated for a rotating elected seat for small island developing states, recognizing their unique perspectives on international peace and security issues, particularly climate change.
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