UN Security Council is an arm of the UN in charge of maintaining peace and global security. They are also in charge of accepting new members and approving changes to the UN charter.

Consists of 5 permanent seats and 10 temporary seats rotated every 2 years. The 5 permanent seats consists of WWII victors and ‘nuclear powers’ - Russia, USA, China, UK and France.

In order to approve a proposal, 9 of the 15 must agree to it, however, a veto from any of the permanent member nations automatically cancels the proposal. This is where the integrity of the council has been called out on. Apparently, this veto idea was forced on the smaller countries by the P5 who threatened that without a veto, there would be no UN.

This veto power has been misused by these nations out of self interests or protecting the interests of ally nations sometimes obstructing justice in the process.

France and UK used such to escape reprimand for their actions in the 1956 Suez crisis, and between 2005-2012, the US has used the veto 3 times to prevent any actions against the Israeli nation. The American dedication to the UN has been questioned as some believe they make decisions that only benefit them.

Various arguments have been made on how to curb this power, taking away the vetoes is almost impossible as such a decision has to be agreed upon unanimously by the P5.

“Russia’s veto power is an important tool able to prevent Washington from getting legitimacy for its imperial wars. The Security Council will lose its relevance without it.” - Vitaly Churkin (Russian permanent rep to the SC).

One argument is the inclusion of more permanent seats and addition of African and Arab nations. At the moment, there are 3 European nations, 1 American nation and China. 4 of the P5 nations are predominantly white.

“It can't be fair that the entire African continent is not represented in the security council” - Kingsley Mamabolo
(South Africa's ambassador to the UN)

“The criteria for such massive power cannot be the victors of a war that ended 70 years ago. The world has developed and changed a lot since then” - Barr. (Hon)(Dr)(Prof)(Chief)(Engr) Coach8 (NL stalker).

Mixed reactions on inclusion of more permanent seats.
France & UK are agreed on it especially on the inclusion of Germany.
US & Russia are still reluctant on the idea.
China is completely against. This could stem from its attempt to prevent Japan from securing a permanent seat.

Main candidates for permanent membership
Brazil, Egypt, Germany, Japan, India, Nigeria and South Africa.

What do you think should be done about the veto powers possessed by the permanent seats of the UN?


References
Global research Canada.
Guardian.
Wikipedia.

I think the proposal should be vetoed by at least 2 permanent members for it to be canceled.

Coach8:
I think the proposal should be vetoed by at least 2 permanent members for it to be canceled.

The Balance of power will remain the same even if you introduce a 2 member veto. ( China/ Russia vs America/UK/France) At least 85 percent of the time.

At least we won't have cases like America protecting Israel, China protecting Sri Lanka, or China blocking Japan.

Coach8:
At least we won't have cases like America protecting Israel, China protecting Sri Lanka, or China blocking Japan.

The countries that need veto protection will only have to lobby one more country and vice versa . Removing the veto all together is the way to go but the world security is still being managed and coordinated by the victors of the second world war so that might not happen either until there is another global conflict.

Africans in Africa only contribute raw materials mainly to the world. The art of Governance and Good Governance still elude us and we are yet to even understand the purpose of mankind and humanity... until then, being a member of UN permanent is a Joke that is on us.

There are some certain things you don't fight for, you simply work on yourself and earn it....

That is what the P5 did.

Missy89:


The countries that need veto protection will only have to lobby one more country and vice versa . Removing the veto all together is the way to go but the world security is still being managed and coordinated by the victors of the second world war so that might not happen either until there is another global conflict.

I don't any African country deserves the veto right atm. We are completely own with no guts to go against our masters. Giving any African coutry the veto right amounts to giving the US another veto right. I think the whole thing is balanced atm.

Bollove:
Africans in Africa only contribute raw materials mainly to the world. The art of Governance and Good Governance still elude us and we are yet to even understand the purpose of mankind and humanity... until then, being a member of UN permanent is a Joke that is on us.

There are some certain things you don't fight for, you simply work on yourself and earn it....

That is what the P5 did.

What the African nation lack in financial resources, they make up for in providing human resources. Ghana and Nigeria are in the top 10 providers of peacemaking operators in the UN.

African nations are starting to adopt a full democratic system. Countries like Cape Verde could be said to have a perfect democratic score with others following suit.

I don't think in this case, only working towards is a viable option, if it were so, nations like Germany and Japan would already have seats

Coach8:


What the African nation lack in financial resources, they make up for in providing human resources. Ghana and Nigeria are in the top 10 providers of peacemaking operators in the UN.

African nations are starting to adopt a full democratic system. Countries like Cape Verde could be said to have a perfect democratic score with others following suit.

I don't think in this case, only working towards is a viable option, if it were so, nations like Germany and Japan would already have seats

lol, is it just about peacekeeping missions
if nations like Germany and Japan are far away from the PS, then where is Nigeria ....

There are many things about the P5 that African countries are lacking

Nigerian Leaders will steal Nigerian money and take it abroad especially Europe .... u expect such fo,o.ls on UNSC-PS .... lol!!! not even ten of Buhari combined

Article 2(1) of the UN charter envisage equality of all nations, no matter their size or power. If we are to go by this provision, then no nation should be excercising veto power to the detriment of others, especially when it has become a tool for settling political scores, vetoeing resolutions that should otherwise have ensure jujstice in some instances.
But since there is need to have some form of check and balance for the sake of world peace, it becomes expedient that there exist a number of notable nations set up to ensure that sense of security and create the right atmosphere for global peace. Therefore, the current order of the security council should remain, but it should comprise of certain nations from each of the continents of the world to create that sense olf equallity. But as long as that Body remain constituted the way it is now, achieving the aims and objectives of setting up the UNO back in 1945, will remain a fleeting illusion.