Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Munir Akram, has attributed the United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) failure to establish peace in Ukraine and Gaza to the states possessing veto power. Akram stated in an interview on Monday that while there are advantages and disadvantages to permanent membership on the UNSC, the veto power wielded by permanent members can paralyze the Security Council.
“We are attempting to limit the veto power of the permanent members,” asserted the Pakistani envoy, emphasizing that adding new permanent members to the UNSC would be futile. Akram urged for an increase in non-permanent elected seats on the council, proposing that the UNSC should consist of 27 members, with a majority representing developing nations.
The five UNSC permanent members with veto power are China, France, Russia, the UK, and the USA. These nations have frequently exercised their veto power, with Russia using it 125 times and the US 82 times.
Meanwhile, the UNSC is expected to vote on an Algerian resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict on Tuesday. However, the United States has signaled its intention to veto the resolution. Algeria initially proposed the draft over two weeks ago, but US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield expressed concern that it could jeopardize “sensitive negotiations” for a pause in the war.
Algeria has requested a vote on Tuesday, and for the resolution to be adopted, it needs at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes from the US, UK, France, China, or Russia. Thomas-Greenfield stated on Saturday that the US does not support the draft resolution, emphasizing that if it is voted on as drafted, it will not be adopted.
