Shillong, September 20: President Joe Biden revealed that the United States is actively engaging in consultations with various countries to address the gridlock surrounding the reform of the UN Security Council and the addition of more permanent members.
He emphasized the need for greater inclusivity, stating, “We need to be able to break the gridlock that too often stymies progress and blocks consensus on the Council. We need more voices and more perspectives at the table.”
As per IANS, Biden affirmed the US’s commitment to pushing reform efforts forward and seeking common ground with other member states. He also reiterated the US’s support for India, Germany, and Japan becoming permanent members, along with advocating for representation from Africa and the Latin America-Caribbean region.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also emphasized the need for Security Council reform in their addresses.
Notably, the leaders of the other four permanent Security Council members were absent from the high-level meeting, allowing President Biden to take the spotlight. Biden emphasized his commitment to international cooperation, particularly with countries in the Global South, and highlighted initiatives such as the Quad partnership and the India-to-Europe Economic Corridor.
Biden reassured that the US’s efforts to build international cooperation were not aimed at containing any specific country, including China. He expressed a willingness to work with China on shared issues while also making it clear that the US would push back against aggression and intimidation and defend established international rules.
Furthermore, President Biden expressed unwavering support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion, stating that the world must stand up against aggression to prevent further conflicts. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky cautioned against making deals with Russia and highlighted the consequences of such agreements, referencing the fate of Putin’s associate Yevgeny Prigozhin.