The United States has announced its support for the addition of two new permanent seats for African countries on the U.N. Security Council, along with a first-ever non-permanent seat for a small island developing nation. This decision follows U.S. President Joe Biden's previous announcement endorsing the expansion of the 15-member council.
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield emphasized the need for African countries to have a stronger voice on the Security Council, stating that the current non-permanent seats do not fully represent their knowledge and perspectives. In addition to advocating for non-permanent membership for African nations, the U.S. is backing the creation of two permanent seats for Africa on the council.
However, the U.S. administration has expressed reservations about granting veto power to new permanent members, citing concerns that it could lead to increased deadlock within the council. The Security Council, established in 1945 after World War II, currently consists of five permanent members with veto power and 10 non-permanent members without veto authority.
Efforts to reform the Security Council to better reflect the contemporary global landscape have been ongoing for decades. While there is widespread agreement on the need for expansion and inclusivity, the specifics of how to achieve this remain a point of contention among member states.
In a bid to address calls for greater representation, the U.S. also announced support for an additional rotating seat for small island developing countries, recognizing their unique perspectives on issues such as climate change.
Looking ahead, the United States plans to draft a resolution outlining its principles for council reform. Despite differing opinions among member states, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield remains optimistic about the potential for progress in reshaping the Security Council to meet the demands of the 21st century.
