France pushes UN to limit superpower veto rights as 118 countries back initiative

France and Mexico have secured support from 118 countries worldwide for an initiative to limit veto powers in the UN Security Council, gaining an additional 11 African supporters. The Security Council, the UN's most powerful body, currently allows five permanent members - the United States, Russia, China, Britain, and France - to veto any resolution, effectively blocking international action even when supported by a majority of countries. The French-Mexican proposal seeks to restrict these veto powers, particularly in cases involving mass atrocities or humanitarian crises. The initiative is now approaching a vote at UN headquarters in New York, marking a significant diplomatic effort to reform the UN system that has remained largely unchanged since the organization's founding in 1945.