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Albanese Seeks UN Security Council Seat
🇦🇺 Australia /Economy & Trade

Albanese Seeks UN Security Council Seat

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will launch Australia's bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for 2029-30 during the UN General Assembly in September.
  • Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated that a seat would give Australia a stronger voice in global decisions affecting the country and its region.
  • Australia has previously held non-permanent seats five times, with the last term in 2013-14 coinciding with the response to the MH17 downing.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to formally launch Australia's bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2029-30 term. The announcement will be made during the UN General Assembly's leaders' week in September, a period Albanese will use to engage with world leaders.

Securing a seat on the Security Council is viewed as a significant diplomatic achievement for the Albanese government, described as the "icing on the international cake." Foreign Minister Penny Wong emphasized the importance of such a position in an increasingly uncertain world. "At a time when the world is more contested and more uncertain, a seat on the Security Council would give Australia a stronger voice in the decisions that affect us and our region," Wong stated. She added that as an active middle power, Australia can make a practical contribution to international peace and security.

At a time when the world is more contested and more uncertain, a seat on the Security Council would give Australia a stronger voice in the decisions that affect us and our region.

— Penny WongForeign Minister Penny Wong explaining the significance of a UN Security Council seat for Australia.

This bid aligns with the Labor party's greater faith in the UN compared to the conservatives. Australia has a history of serving on the Security Council, having held non-permanent seats on five previous occasions: 1946–47, 1956–57, 1973–74, 1985–86, and 2013–14. The last term proved particularly significant, allowing Australia to help lead the global response to the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over Ukraine.

The campaign for a non-permanent seat can be a lengthy and potentially costly process. Australia's current bid was initially announced by then-Foreign Minister Julie Bishop in September 2015 under the Turnbull government. While past bids have faced criticism regarding costs, the current opposition leader, Angus Taylor, has offered in-principle support.

As an active middle power, we have a practical contribution to make to international peace and security, standing up for the rules and working with others to deliver outcomes.

— Penny WongForeign Minister Penny Wong outlining Australia's potential role on the Security Council.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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