Biden calls on UN to expand permanent members of Security Council

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Biden: Expand UN Security Council

President Biden called on the United Nations to expand its Security Council, in a speech to the body's General Assembly Wednesday.

President Biden on Wednesday called on the United Nations to expand the number of permanent members that sit it the Security Council as Russia expands its war effort in Ukraine. 

"The U.S. supports increasing the number of permanent and non-permanent representatives in the council. This includes permanent seats for those nations we long supported," he told nation leaders at the 77th UN General Assembly in New York City.

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The call comes as Russia — one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council — again further distanced itself from not only Western nations opposed to the war in Ukraine but all UN nations that have condemned the illegal invasion. 

President Biden addresses to the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Russia’s war in Ukraine has split the council for the first time since the Cold War and has driven a global response not seen since World War II.

"I reject the use of violence and war to conquer nations or expand borders through bloodshed, to stand against global politics and fear and coercion, to defend the sovereign rights of smaller nations as equal to those of larger ones," Biden said, referencing the UN Charter. "That is the common ground upon which we must stand. If you're still committed to a strong foundation for the good of every nation around the world, then the United States wants to work with you."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov deliver his speech as he meets with heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Russia in Moscow on Monday. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool)

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China and Russia have found themselves at odds with not only the other three permanent council members, the U.S., France and the U.K., but with the majority of the 10 non-permanent members

India and China were the only Security Council members to abstain from voting on a resolution in March that called on Russia to immediately end its invasion. 

Biden also argued members need to exercise restraint when employing veto powers. 

"Members of the UN Security Council, including the United States, should consistently uphold and defend the UN Charter and refrain from the use of the veto, except in rare, extraordinary situations to ensure the council remains credible and effective," Biden said. 

Permanent members on the chief council hold the right to block any resolution through veto powers no matter what the majority opinion of the 15-member council is. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks via remote feed during a meeting of the UN Security Council at UN headquarters on April 5, 2022. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

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Biden argued adding seats to the council would ensure a broader response to chief issues facing the world like global hunger and the climate crisis. 

"The time has come for this institution to become more inclusive, so that we can better respond to the needs of today's world," he said.