Washington [US], September 13: The United States on September 12 called for two new permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for African countries, along with a rotating seat for small island developing states.
"For many years, countries have called for a more inclusive and representative council that reflects the demographics of today's world and is better able to respond to the challenges we face today," US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the UN Council on Foreign Relations
Ms Thomas-Greenfield said African countries would decide which country would take the council's two permanent seats.
However, having a seat on the UNSC does not mean that African countries or small island developing states have veto power. Ms. Thomas-Greenfield emphasized that the US does not support expanding the veto power beyond the five original permanent members: the US, UK, France, Russia and China.
"None of the permanent members wanted to give up their veto, including us. We thought that if we extended that veto to the entire council, it would make the council less effective," Ms. Thomas-Greenfield said.
The US also supports permanent representation in the Security Council of countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, but did not specify which countries.
Previously, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on September 11 supported reform of the Security Council. However, Ms. Thomas-Greenfield said: "Most of the issues surrounding the reform of the Security Council are only of a discussion nature."
The move comes as the US seeks to repair ties with Africa, where many countries are unhappy with Washington's support for Israel's conflict in Gaza, and strengthen ties with Pacific island nations to counter China's growing influence.
In addition, according to Reuters, the effort to win two permanent seats for African countries and one rotating seat for small island developing states is a move that continues Washington's support and advocacy for India, Japan and Germany to be able to hold permanent seats in the UN Security Council.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper