UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly called for an expansion of the United Nations Security Council, backing India’s bid for a permanent membership of the UN body, along with Brazil, Germany and Japan. He emphasised that Africa deserves a louder voice on the world stage. In his opening remarks at the Council on Foreign Relations on Tuesday, Cleverly said, “I will summarize by saying that the challenges the world presents us are legion. But we do have the opportunity to make positive progress. We do have the opportunity to get the Sustainable Development Goals back on track.”
“It is going to mean that we work with our traditional friends and allies, but it also means that we have to give voice to the emerging powers in the world. The UK has encouraged an expansion of the United Nations Security Council for example, we believe that India, Brazil, Germany, Japan should have permanent membership, and Africa really deserves a louder voice on the world stage,” he added.