The United States has announced support for two permanent seats for African nations on the U.N. Security Council, according to Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. ambassador to the U.N. However, the catch is that these new seats would not have veto power. This move reflects calls from U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres to reform the Council to represent modern global power dynamics. The Council currently has 15 members, with 5 permanent members (U.S., Russia, China, Britain, and France) holding veto power, and 10 rotating members. Changing this structure would require unanimous approval from all permanent members and a U.N. charter amendment, a challenging task due to global divisions.
While the U.S. supports Africa’s bid, other countries such as Japan, Brazil, India, and Germany have also long sought permanent membership. This geopolitical gesture from the U.S. may be aimed at mending strained relations with Africa and countering growing influence from China and Russia, both of which already support Africa’s Council bid. African nations argue that their large populations and economic significance warrant representation.
The U.S. also supports expanding membership to include small island nations. However, not granting veto power to new members has raised concerns of a two-tier system, limiting the influence of new permanent members. Historically, the U.S. has backed permanent seats for allies like Japan and Germany as well.
This move follows a recent U.N. debate initiated by Sierra Leone, emphasizing the need for reform to maintain the Council’s credibility and global relevance. If reforms do not happen, critics argue the Council risks becoming ineffective.
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