US to propose 2 permanent seats without veto power for Africa in UN Security Council reform

HAMILTON, Canada

The US will announce Thursday support for two African countries as permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) without veto power as part of proposed reforms.

US envoy to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield is set to unveil Washington’s vision for UNSC reform, according to a senior American official.

Saying the US will advocate for the addition of two new African seats to the Council, the official said the seats should not include veto rights, arguing that African representation would strengthen the Council’s legitimacy.

The official noted that expanding the veto power would further paralyze the Council and reiterated the US support for increased representation for India, Germany, Japan and Latin America and the Caribbean.

With aims to have "more representative and more credible" in the Security Council, the official said the US proposed creating a non-permanent seat for small island developing states, citing the importance of their voices in matters of peace and security.

Noting the US' readiness to engage in negotiations to implement the vision, the official said the US would take the proposal to a UN General Assembly vote to amend the UN Charter and work with other countries on the process.

*Serife Cetin contributed to this story.