New York - UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has voiced support for an expansion of the United Nations Security Council, endorsing India's bid for permanent membership, along with Brazil, Germany, and Japan. He underscored the importance of amplifying Africa's presence on the global stage. During his opening remarks at the Council on Foreign Relations, Cleverly remarked, "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.

Notably, India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have consistently raised the issue of global system reforms at international forums. During his closing address at the G20 Leaders Summit in Delhi, PM Modi reiterated his commitment to aligning global systems with the "realities of the present" and cited the example of the United Nations Security Council.

Additionally, Cleverly discussed his visit to Beijing in his address at the Council on Foreign Relations. He mentioned engaging with the Chinese government on areas of "deep, deep disagreements," including China's treatment of the Uyghur Muslim minority in Xinjiang, their failure to honor their commitments regarding Hong Kong's autonomy, and their "aggressive posture" in the Taiwan Strait.

Cleverly elaborated on the discussions held with China, which encompassed economic recovery after the conference and harnessing the benefits of artificial intelligence.

The UK Foreign Minister commended the United States for providing military assistance to Ukraine, describing it as a "leading supplier of military aid" to Kyiv. He acknowledged that the collective support from the UK, US, and other nations worldwide has had a significant impact, providing the "Ukrainians a fighting chance at the beginning of this conflict."

"The US is the leading supplier of military aid to Ukraine, and I pay tribute to your nation's generosity. The Ukrainians are making the most of their support. While there may be frustrations regarding the pace of their counter-offensive, I've received military briefings. Without delving into excessive detail, the Russian occupying forces have extensively fortified the entire southern region of Ukraine, making any advance necessarily slow and methodical," Cleverly remarked.

He also pointed out that Russia has suffered a far higher number of combat fatalities in just over eighteen months than the Soviets did during their ten-year presence in Afghanistan, emphasizing that this level of loss is unsustainable. Cleverly pledged that the UK would continue to call upon the international community to provide support to Ukraine.