World leaders joined US in seeking reforms in UN Security Council

Pittsburgh, Sep 23 (PTI) A number of world leaders have joined the United States in seeking reforms in the UN Security Council and including India as one of its permanent members, giving momentum to the demand for expansion of the powerful wing of the United Nations.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stressed reforming the United Nations, including its security council "to return to the vision and principles of the UN Charter, with the strengthening of the UN's functions, including disarmament and non-proliferation".

In his address at the annual session of the UN General Assembly, Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa said, "We need a representative, agile and functional security council that can respond to the challenges of the 21st century without becoming paralysed, and whose actions are scrutinized by other members of the United Nations." Costa sought a security council that incorporates a comprehensive view of security, recognising the role of climate change as an accelerant of conflict.