Jordan set to take Saudi seat at UNSC

Saudi Arabia’s ally Jordan looks increasingly likely to take the seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) that Riyadh dramatically rejected. On 18 November, the Jordanian foreign ministry said it had presented an “official request” to UN chief Ban Ki-moon and, on 21 November, the UN said the General Assembly would vote on 6 December on whether to accept it. No other country has said it will stand. Jordan has twice been a non-permanent member of the UNSC, in 1965-6 and 1982-3. Saudi Arabia, which has called for comprehensive reform of the council, has never been elected.