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In recent news, the United States has announced its support for the addition of two new permanent seats for African countries on the powerful U.N. Security Council. This also includes a first-ever non-permanent seat for a small island developing nation. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield made this announcement in a speech to the Council on Foreign Relations, following up on President Joe Biden’s statement two years ago that the U.S. supports expanding the 15-member body.
While Africa currently holds three non-permanent seats on the Security Council, this does not allow for the full representation and impact of their knowledge and voices. That is why, in addition to non-permanent membership, the United States also supports creating two permanent seats for Africa on the council. This is what our African partners seek, and we believe it is just.
However, it is important to note that the U.S. does not believe any new permanent members should have veto power. This is because extending the veto would only lead to greater deadlock on the council. While Security Council resolutions are legally binding, they are often ignored by targeted countries.
It is widely agreed that the Security Council should be expanded to reflect the world in the 21st century and include more voices. However, the main disagreement lies in how to achieve this. The current configuration of the council has not changed since its establishment in 1945, with 10 non-permanent members and five permanent members with veto power: the United States, Russia, China, Britain, and France.
The use of veto power, particularly by Russia and the U.S.’s support for Israel, has hindered the council’s ability to take action on important issues such as the war in Ukraine and Gaza. Attempts to reform the council have been ongoing since 1979, but no significant changes have been made.
In 2005, world leaders called for the council to be “more broadly representative, efficient, and transparent.” It is our hope that with your support, we can continue to push for meaningful reform and a more inclusive Security Council that reflects the diverse voices of the world. Thank you for your support.