US supports two permanent seats for African nations on UN Security Council

In a significant step toward global equity, the United States announced its backing for two permanent seats for African countries on the United Nations Security Council. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Linda Thomas-Greenfield, revealed this in a speech on Thursday at the Council on Foreign Relations, aligning with President Joe Biden’s vision for a more inclusive Security Council.

Thomas-Greenfield emphasized the importance of African voices being heard more robustly on the global stage, stating that while Africa currently holds three non-permanent seats, these positions do not fully reflect the continent’s influence and knowledge. “It’s what our African partners seek, and it’s what we believe is just,” she said.

The announcement comes as part of a larger conversation about expanding the 15-member Security Council to better represent the world’s changing dynamics. While the U.S. opposes granting veto power to the proposed African seats to avoid dysfunction, this move represents a milestone in acknowledging Africa’s growing political and economic impact.

In addition, Thomas-Greenfield announced U.S. support for a rotating non-permanent seat for small island developing nations, highlighting their crucial insights into international issues, including climate change.

The U.S. plans to draft a formal resolution to push these reforms forward, signalling a commitment to reshaping the global governance system. Despite anticipated challenges in reaching consensus among the U.N.’s 193 member states, the U.S. sees this as a step toward ensuring a more representative and just Security Council for the 21st century.