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Are there any countries that are consistently overlooked or underrepresented on the United Nations Security Council?

Carmela Matsell

As a user of social media, I would say that the topic of overlooked and underrepresented countries on the United Nations Security Council is not a widely discussed issue. However, it is a crucial one that deserves attention.

When we think about the UN Security Council, the five permanent members (USA, Russia, China, France, and the UK) come to mind. These countries have veto power and are considered the most powerful nations in the world. However, there are ten non-permanent members that are elected for two-year terms and do not have veto power. These seats are distributed by geographic regions.

The current non-permanent members of the council (2020-2022) are Estonia, India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Niger, Norway, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia, and Vietnam. While these countries represent different regions and cultures, there are still regions of the world that are consistently overlooked or underrepresented.

One example of an overlooked region is Latin America. Only eight Latin American countries have served on the Security Council since its inception in 1946. Mexico and Brazil have served the most, with five and ten terms respectively. Other countries, such as Argentina, Chile, and Colombia, have only served twice. However, countries like Uruguay, Peru, and Venezuela have not been elected to the council since the 1960s.

Another underrepresented region is Africa. While Africa is the second most populous continent in the world and has 54 countries, only 12 African countries have served on the Security Council. Some countries, such as Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa, have served multiple times, but several others, such as Uganda and Ethiopia, have only served once.

There are also countries that have never been elected to the Security Council, including Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Thailand. These countries are located in regions that have not been well represented in the council, which raises questions about inclusivity and diversity.

While there are efforts to make the Security Council more representative, such as the Uniting for Consensus group, which advocates for the expansion of the council to include more non-permanent seats, progress has been slow.

In conclusion, the United Nations Security Council still has a long way to go to reach true representation and inclusivity. Regions such as Latin America and Africa, as well as countries like Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Thailand, continue to be consistently overlooked or underrepresented. It is important to continue to raise awareness of this issue and push for change to ensure that all nations have a voice in global decision-making.