LONDON: The United Kingdom (UK) announced its support on Thursday for an expanded United Nations Security Council, advocating for a permanent seat for Africa to better represent the current and future state of the world. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly made the announcement, stating that the UK aims to see permanent African representation in addition to extending membership to India, Brazil, Germany, and Japan.
Cleverly addressed the Chatham House foreign affairs think-tank in London, describing the reform as a bold step that would bring the Security Council into the 2020s. The United Kingdom, along with China, France, Russia, and the United States, is currently a permanent member of the Security Council, while the remaining ten seats are filled by non-permanent members elected by the UN General Assembly for two-year terms.
This move by the UK aligns with previous indications of support from US President Joe Biden, who has expressed backing for an expanded Security Council with African representation and granting the African Union a permanent position in the G20. Biden has also shown support for granting permanent seats to Latin America, Japan, and India.
Lack of Representation of Developing Countries on UN Security Council
Developing nations have long voiced concerns about their lack of representation on the Security Council, where the five permanent members hold veto power. They argue that this imbalance risks rendering the body obsolete. However, calls for reform have been unsuccessful thus far, and experts remain skeptical that the current permanent members will relinquish their powers despite the compelling arguments for change.
Cleverly’s endorsement of an expanded Security Council was part of a broader speech advocating for a reinvigorated multilateral system fit for the 21st century. He emphasized the significance of multilateral agreements, such as the UN Charter of 1945, in addressing global challenges, including nuclear non-proliferation and climate change.
Highlighting recent events such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cleverly referred to the Kremlin’s military action as a calculated assault on the UN Charter and the principles of the rules-based international order. He acknowledged that the geopolitical and global economic center of gravity is shifting from Europe and North America to the Indo-Pacific region. Additionally, Cleverly emphasized Africa’s increasing importance due to demographic changes, underscoring the need to provide African countries with a voice on issues such as debt, poverty, and climate change.
Cleverly also called for an overhaul of the World Trade Organization to reflect the digital economy and for international financial institutions to address climate finance and debt reduction.
