All change at the UN Security Council?

Reform of the UN Security Council is moving up the agenda, with a meeting between four large non-SC members and the president of the UN General Assembly in New York on Sunday.

Germany, India, Japan and Brazil form the so-called G4 group which is pushing for permanent representation on an enlarged the Security Council.

At present, out of a UN assembly of 191 members, only 5 countries–US, China, Russia, UK and France–hold a permanent seat, complete with full veto rights, on the 15-member Security Council.

The others take part, with veto rights, in rotation.

The G4 and the African Union are pushing for another 6 permament members, to include the G4 plus two African countries, possibly South Africa and Nigeria.

However, the G4 and the African Union are already disagreeing with one another over veto rights. The G4 would be happy to have permanent seat status without veto power for the time being, where as the African Union wants immediate veto powers.

Any change in Security Council status needs the support for two-thirds of the 191-member General Assembly.

Given the disagreements, the G4 said that it would postpone pushing for a vote on the issue until later in July.

World leaders meet in September when it is hoped that wide-ranging reforms to the UN’s operations will be agreed upon.

However, the US and China, which can veto any changes proposed, seem reluctant to expand membership of the Security Council.