A Seat at the Table: Why the Security Council Needs New Voices | opinion

Institutions, like people, must find new ways to evolve as they age. The UN Security Council should be no different.

In New York last month, world leaders gathered at the United Nations General Assembly to make recommendations on international issues, including a growing call for reform of the international system.

Today’s world is different from when the United Nations was founded in 1945. As the structure of global governance has evolved, we must reform the international system to reflect our current geopolitical realities.

One idea, proposed by the US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, is to expand the Security Council. This would include adding two permanent seats for Africa, reserving one seat on the council for small island developing states, and continued US support for permanent seats for Japan, Germany and India.

Tasked with recommending the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly, the Security Council is designed to maintain international peace and security. But its current structure reflects a bygone era. The five permanent members (P5) — the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China and Russia — enjoy veto powers that often hold back collective action in the face of global crises. Today’s international order is much more complex, with emerging powers and regional alliances taking on a greater role in global security, trade and diplomacy.

To remain legitimate and effective, the Security Council must be expanded to include nations that better represent the current geopolitical landscape. This requires not only additional permanent seats, but also wider reforms to ensure more equitable representation and efficiency in decision-making.

The United States has shown a willingness to support these reforms, and we must now work to include additional seats for both emerging economies and traditional powers in underrepresented regions such as Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

Why Africa? Simply put, the region is a focal point for 21st century geopolitics. It is home to more than a billion people, some of the fastest growing economies in the world and critical shipping lanes that drive global trade. The region is also at the center of strategic competition between major powers such as the United States and the People’s Republic of China, with major players such as Nigeria, Kenya, Angola and others serving as essential partners in the larger security architecture. wide

Adding a permanent seat for two African countries to the Security Council is not just symbolic; it is a recognition of the strategic influence of the region. This move would ensure that African perspectives on global security issues, from countering violent extremism to climate change, are represented at the highest level and provide the Council with a more balanced geopolitical view, particularly in discussions involving challenges of global security, namely Russia. -The war in Ukraine, terrorism and the growing threat of climate-induced migration and instability.

Moreover, the United States has recognized that its security interests are deeply intertwined with those of its partners in Africa and beyond. Washington’s support for Security Council reform aligns with its broader strategy of building and strengthening alliances to address shared global challenges. By advocating for the inclusion of additional permanent seats, particularly from regions such as Africa, the United States demonstrates its commitment to a rules-based international order that is fairer, more representative, and more resilient.

By working with emerging global leaders, the United States can foster a coalition of like-minded democracies that uphold international norms and promote peace and stability. An enlarged and reformed Security Council would better reflect the diversity of global power structures and enable more collaborative and effective responses to crises such as terrorism, human rights abuses and climate change.

A small island seat would also help balance China’s growing influence on the Council and refocus on issues close to the heart of these most vulnerable nations. As the United States continues to compete with the People’s Republic of China for influence around the world, providing a seat at the table for those with less influence could promote a more nuanced approach to addressing the multifaceted threats to our security collective

Reforming the Security Council is no longer an option but a necessity. Working with its allies and partners, the United States can help lead the way in shaping a more just, effective, and representative global order by ensuring that the Security Council remains relevant and responsive to today’s crises and of tomorrow

The world is watching, and it’s time for the UN General Assembly to act. Now is the time to reform the Security Council. In doing so, we ensure that the international system remains a force for peace, justice and cooperation.

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) is the ranking member of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the US and the Chinese Communist Party and represents Illinois’ 8th Congressional District.

The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own.