September 10, 2022
2 mins read

Biden to consult leaders on UNSC expansion

The US has supported India’s quest for a permanent seat in the Security Council and despite Washington’s misgivings over New Delhi’s neutrality over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, there is no discernible change in Washington’s stance, reports Arul Louis

 Giving a new impetus to the movement for UN Security Council reforms, US President Joe Biden will consult with other leaders during the General Assembly’s upcoming high-level session to “forge a consensus” on expanding the Council, according to Washington’s Permanent Representative Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

“We should forge consensus around sensible and credible proposals to expand the Security Council’s membership,” she said while addressing the Future of the UN in San Francisco on Thursday.

“During this month’s General Assembly, President Biden, Secretary (of State Antony) Blinken, and I plan to consult broadly on our individual and collective responsibilities under the UN Charter, including critical questions around reform of the Security Council and other UN organs,” she said.

“You can expect to hear more from us on this issue.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be at the General Assembly’s annual high-level meeting that starts on September 20, instead External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will represent India.

“The Security Council should also better reflect the current global realities and incorporate more geographically diverse perspectives,” Thomas-Greenfield said.

The basic structure of the Security Council goes back to the geopolitics of 1945 when the five countries that had won World War II — China (then represented by what became the leadership of Taiwan), France, the UK, the US and the Soviet Union (now succeeded by Russia) — assumed veto-wielding permanent membership.

United States Permanent Representative Linda Thomas-Greenfield. (Photo: Arul Louis/IANS)

“We should not defend an unsustainable and outdated status quo. Instead, we must demonstrate flexibility and willingness to compromise in the name of greater credibility and legitimacy,” she said emphasising the need for reforms.

The US has supported India’s quest for a permanent seat in the Security Council and despite Washington’s misgivings over New Delhi’s neutrality over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, there is no discernible change in Washington’s stance.

Thomas-Greenfield said that as a permanent member, the US “will enhance cooperation, inclusivity, and transparency”.

Since the Security Council got its mandate from the total membership of the UN and acts on its behalf, its “members should engage frequently and substantively with the General Assembly, with UN bodies, with relevant regional groups, and with a cross-section of UN Member States”, she added.

The efforts to reform the Security Council have been blocked by a small group of countries, who have blocked it from even adopting a negotiating text on which the negotiations can go forward.

ALSO READ: Indian-American Vedant Patel holds State Dept presser

Previous Story

King Charles vows ‘lifelong service’ as UK’s new monarch

Next Story

India stays out of Indo-Pacific trade pillar

Latest from -Top News

Singapore’s Ruling Party Achieves Landslide Victory

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, whose party won the election, thanked supporters.,..reports Asian Lite News Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) won 87 of the 97 seats in Parliament in Saturday’s general election,

Jaishankar, Lavrov Discuss Pahalgam Terror Attack

Both the Ministers discussed issues of Russian-Indian cooperation and the aggravation of India-Pakistan relations following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar spoke to the Russian Foreign Minister

Ukrainian forces to join VE  procession  

Ukrainian personnel will join around 1,000 UK armed forces members, including soldiers on horseback and military bands, to symbolise “the global support for their continued fight for freedom” against Russia  krainian armed

Rajnath Singh to skip Russia visit

The decision comes amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir…reports Asian Lite News Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will not likely attend Russia’s

WAVES 2025: Jaishankar Advocates Cultural Pluralism

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar delivered a powerful address at the WAVES 2025 Global Media Dialogue, highlighting the significance of cultural pluralism in shaping global change. Speaking on the second day of
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Rival faction inside Nepal’s CPN-UML sign up for new party

As many as 30 lawmakers and 54 central committee members

Indo-Pacific Army Chiefs Pledge Joint Action Plan

The three-day event took place in the backdrop of increased