On September 12, U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, announced a proposal to reform the UN Security Council.

The proposal includes the creation of two permanent seats for African countries and a rotating seat for small island developing states, without granting them veto powers.

This initiative aims to address longstanding demands from developing nations for greater representation in the Security Council, which currently consists of five permanent members with veto power.

President Joe Biden has previously expressed support for permanent seats for Africa and Latin America, emphasizing the need for increased representation during his speech at the UN General Assembly.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has also called for reform, highlighting concerns about the legitimacy and effectiveness of the current Security Council structure.

Despite widespread recognition of the need for reform, achieving consensus on the future composition of the Security Council remains complex due to differing opinions.

Calls for reform have been ongoing since 1979, but deep divisions among member states have stalled progress.

While Thomas-Greenfield's tenure has received mixed reactions, she is viewed as having managed her role competently and may leave behind a plausible agenda for UN reform.

Currently, African nations hold three non-permanent seats on the Security Council, which limits their influence and ability to represent their interests effectively.

Challenges to reform include determining which African countries will receive the two permanent seats and overcoming opposition from China and Russia, who fear a loss of influence.

Thomas-Greenfield emphasized the need to formalize these proposals in a draft resolution, while recognizing the challenges of achieving consensus among the 193 U.N. member states.

The U.S. supports the expansion of the Security Council but does not endorse granting veto power to the new members.