African representation in UN/ permanent seats for Africa in UN/ Security Council African inclusion/ UNITED NATIONS/ expanding UN Security Council/ Newslooks/ The US has announced its support for adding two permanent African seats to the UN Security Council, as well as a non-permanent seat for a small island nation. US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield emphasized this step reflects Africa’s growing importance but opposed granting veto power to new permanent members. This move follows President Biden’s call for Security Council reform to better represent today’s world.
African Seats on UN Security Council: Quick Looks
- The US supports two permanent African seats on the UN Security Council.
- A non-permanent seat for a small island developing nation is also backed by the US.
- Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield emphasized Africa’s significance but opposed veto power for new permanent members.
- This move follows President Biden’s 2022 pledge for Security Council reform to reflect the modern global landscape.
- Reforms face challenges due to differing global opinions on council expansion and veto power.
US Supports Two Permanent African Seats on UN Council
Deep Look
The United States has declared its support for adding two permanent seats for African nations on the United Nations Security Council, marking a significant step toward addressing longstanding calls for the global body to better represent the modern world. U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, announced the decision in a speech delivered on Thursday to the Council on Foreign Relations, describing it as a follow-up to President Joe Biden’s 2022 commitment to Security Council reform.
Currently, Africa holds three non-permanent seats on the 15-member council, but Thomas-Greenfield emphasized that this arrangement limits the continent’s ability to fully influence global peace and security decisions. “Africa has knowledge and voices that should be fully represented in the Council,” she explained. By advocating for two permanent seats for African countries, the U.S. seeks to address this imbalance. “It’s what our African partners seek, and it’s what we believe is just,” she added.
However, Washington’s backing comes with a caveat: the U.S. opposes granting veto power to the new African members. The veto power, held by the current five permanent members—the United States, Russia, China, Britain, and France—has often been criticized for paralyzing the council’s ability to act on critical issues. For example, Russia’s veto has stalled actions regarding the Ukraine war, while U.S. support for Israel has limited the council’s response to the Gaza conflict. Thomas-Greenfield argued that the veto system renders the council “dysfunctional,” and thus, expanding it without extending veto rights aligns with the U.S. vision of a more effective council.
The debate over Security Council reform is far from new. Since its inception in 1945, the Council has maintained its original structure, with the same five permanent members dominating global security discussions. Calls for reform began as early as 1979, gaining momentum in 2005 when world leaders urged for a more “representative, efficient, and transparent” body. Despite these appeals, divisions on how to expand the Council—particularly on the issue of veto power—have long stalled progress.
In September 2022, Biden reinforced his administration’s commitment to Security Council reform. He advocated not only for additional African representation but also for the inclusion of Latin America and the Caribbean as permanent members. While Thomas-Greenfield did not mention this in her recent speech, a senior U.S. official confirmed that Washington remains committed to these proposals.
In addition to supporting Africa’s permanent inclusion, Thomas-Greenfield announced U.S. backing for the creation of a new non-permanent seat for small island developing nations. Representing over 65 million people across 1,000 islands, these nations often face unique challenges, particularly in the realm of climate change, that deserve greater attention on the global stage. “These states are not a monolith,” the ambassador said, noting their crucial perspectives on peace, security, and environmental issues.
The process of implementing such reforms, however, is likely to be fraught with obstacles. Any changes to the Security Council must be approved by the U.N. General Assembly, a body composed of 193 member states with widely differing views on how to achieve a more equitable representation. Some countries argue that before a resolution is drafted, all member states need to agree on what a reformed Council should look like. Thomas-Greenfield acknowledged this reality, saying, “No amount of conversation will ever get us to a place of total consensus on this issue.”
Despite these challenges, the U.S. plans to draft a resolution that reflects its principles on Council reform, hoping to spark action on a long-delayed issue. While the road ahead is unclear, the U.S. position signals a shift toward amplifying voices from regions historically underrepresented in global security discussions.
As the world continues to evolve, the debate over the structure of the UN Security Council will remain central to conversations about international governance. By supporting Africa’s inclusion, the U.S. aims to modernize the council while maintaining certain checks on power, a balance that will likely shape future negotiations on the issue.
