US Backs Africa's Call For UN Security Council Seats

The United States' Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, has announced in a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York that the US supports three changes to the Security Council–including backing the creation of two permanent seats for African nations, albeit without the power of veto.A rotating elected seat for small island developing nations also has US backing, in addition to calling for the onset of text-based negotiations on Council reform.. "[these announcements] Mean we're ready to work with other countries to negotiate language, prepare amendments, and ready this resolution for a vote in the General Assembly, and ultimately amend the UN Charter," said Thomas-Greenfield. What You Need to KnowThe topic of permanent African representation at the Council began almost two years ago, with US President Joe Biden illustrating his support for such reforms. However, the topic has risen to the forefront in recent months, particularly as great power competition has returned to Africa, and in light of new Russian and Chinese partnerships fostered in the continent. In late June, the United Kingdom had announced its backing for an expanded Security Council, with specific reference to a permanent seat for Africa, and membership extended to India, Brazil, Germany and Japan. However, the US maintains that the power of Veto, currently held by Russia, China, the UK, France, and the United States, should not be extended to the newly proposed members, raising questions around the legitimacy of the renewed push for Security Council reform. With 193 countries currently UN-member states, Thomas-Greenfield labelled past attempts at onsetting Council reform as "just that: a conversation," calling on all UN-member states to now "collaborate on solutions to make the UN development system more accountable and coherent, and the UN humanitarian system more efficient and more effective. To find ways to increase transparency, address emerging technologies, and incorporate gender and racial equality in our work." .China Warn Eswatini Against Relations with Taiwan.Supporting a new cross-regional rotating seat to be occupied in-turn by the 39 small island developing states, Thomas-Greenfield noted the Biden-Harris administration's interest in upholding consistent representation for pacific island nations specifically, as Chinese influence expands in the region and climate-related issues such as rising sea levels continue to pose a threat.The calls come as the United States attempts to appease the continent in which it has lost much of its face, with its former and prospective partners turning towards the lucrative business opportunities and promises of regime stability found in partnerships with China and Russia. With Niger ending its military partnership with the US, and other Sahelian nations firmly in the Russian sphere of influence, the US has moved to secure its partnerships with coastal West African nations, although it has repeatedly denied claims it intends to construct a new military base in the region after its loss of Airbase 201 in Niger. .So, What Now?The US backing of permanent Security Council seats is likely come as a welcome development to many African nations that have continuously pushed for increased representation and multilateral institutions. As great power competition returns to the continent, African nations have become increasingly insistent on their role as sovereign negotiators, unswayed by the wider geopolitical interests of the 'big five'–China, Russia, the US, France, and UK.