Australia urges middle-power push for security council

Australia's prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is set to urge a push for greater security on the United Nations Security Council during his upcoming visit to New York. He argues that the country's status as a middle power would bolster the effectiveness of the global body. The Australian PM is in the running to secure a two-year seat on the 15-member council for the 2029 and 2030 terms.

A vote to elect the new members is slated for mid-2028, but lobbying efforts are already intensifying ahead of the UN General Assembly's high-level week. Albanese emphasizes that middle powers like Australia play a vital role in making the Security Council more responsive, particularly in light of ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Middle East.

He notes that the UN must step up its efforts and that middle powers must leverage their influence. While only Australia and Finland have expressed interest in a spot on the council so far, other countries from the Western Europe and Others Group, which includes Australia, may still join the bid. Australia's strong global reputation and history of peacekeeping missions make it a compelling candidate.

The country has been a significant contributor to the UN, ranking eighth in total funding. With the permanent members being China, France, the US, the UK, and Russia, the remaining slots are filled by the non-permanent members serving two-year terms.