Wed Sep 25 06:02:09 UTC 2024: ## UN Security Council Reform Gains Momentum with US Support for New Permanent Members

**UNITED NATIONS, September 25, 2024 (IPS)** – A decades-long proposal to reform the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has been reignited by a new push from the United States, proposing two new permanent members from Africa, among others. The proposal, however, would not grant veto power to the new members, leaving the current five permanent members (P5) in control.

The US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, announced the Biden administration’s support for key changes to the Council’s composition, including permanent seats for countries in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as India, Japan, and Germany. This shift in US policy is significant, as the country has historically opposed such reforms.

The proposal has faced immediate opposition from the 12-member Uniting for Consensus Group, which opposes the creation of new permanent seats and favors alternative methods to enhance African representation.

Dr. Palitha Kohona, a former Chief of the UN Treaty Section, highlighted the complex legal and political barriers to amending the UN Charter, which would be required to expand the permanent membership of the UNSC.

He explained that while the US may be supportive, ratification would require a two-thirds vote in the General Assembly and the unanimous approval of all five permanent members, a process that would be both time-consuming and challenging.

The current UNSC structure, reflecting the power dynamics after World War II, has been criticized for being outdated and unrepresentative of the current global landscape. Critics argue that the dominance of European countries in the permanent seats is unjustified, especially with the rise of economic and military power in other regions.

The proposal for new African members has been met with optimism, with many recognizing the need for increased representation of the continent on the UN’s most powerful body. However, the veto power held by the P5 remains a key sticking point, highlighting the power imbalances and the challenges to truly reform the UNSC.

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