Richardson Calls for More Permanent Seats on Security Council

ABC News’ Teddy Davis, Nick Schifrin, and Paul Fidalgo Report: Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M. called Thursday for expanding from five to ten the number of permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council. The Democratic presidential candidate would not, however, arm the new permanent seats with veto power.

"I would add Germany and Japan as permanent members," said Richardson. "I would say to Asia and Africa and Latin America that you deserve a seat, too. You figure it out, perhaps on a rotating basis, who represents Africa, Asia, and Latin America."

Such a change to the U.N. Security Council’s composition would face major hurdles.

It would require a two-thirds vote by the U.N. General Assembly as well as the support of all five current veto-wielding permanent members: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

At present, the Security Council consists of five permanent members plus 10 non-permanent members, elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms and not eligible for immediate re-election.

Richardson, a former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., made his comments while laying out his foreign policy vision at the Center for Strategic International Studies in Washington, D.C.