The Rise of the A3 Plus: A New Era in the UN Security Council
- Ahmed Fathi
- Nov 22, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Dec 1, 2025
By Ahmed Fathi
UNHQ, New York: The recently released Security Council Report (SCR) highlights a significant shift in the internal dynamics of the UN Security Council. This change is not what many observers anticipated. The Council has long been a place where entrenched hierarchies dominate, and geopolitical choreography follows predictable patterns. However, the SCR’s examination of the African members—the A3—reveals a subtle yet consequential recalibration taking place. Africa, along with its emerging Caribbean partners, is beginning to reshape the flow of influence within the chamber.
A Quiet Recalibration of Diplomatic Influence
A quiet recalibration of diplomatic influence is underway. This shift is not loud or ideological, nor does it resemble the theatrics of the Cold War. Instead, it is disciplined, coordinated, and unmistakably rooted in the Global South.
The SCR documents this transformation with precision. Yet, experiencing it firsthand at UN Headquarters, I can attest that the A3 Plus operates less like a loose cooperation framework and more like a new, modernized form of non-alignment. This new alignment is designed for a polarized world where great powers increasingly talk past each other.
A3 + Caribbean: A Coalition Formed by Reality, Not Romance
The SCR report makes one thing clear: the A3’s transformation did not emerge from ambition alone. It was born out of necessity, painfully illustrated by the 2011 Libya crisis. During this crisis, the African Union’s diplomatic roadmap was sidelined in favor of NATO’s intervention.
For African diplomats, Libya served as a rude awakening. The message was clear: if Africa arrived at the Council divided, it would leave ignored.
The SCR traces how this realization fueled the A3’s decade-long evolution into a cohesive political bloc. However, the report also highlights a pivotal moment that took this transformation beyond regional alignment: the arrival of the Caribbean.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines joined the A3 in 2020, followed by Guyana in 2024. In that instant, the group subtly shifted from a continental voice to a cross-regional partnership with shared post-colonial instincts and political priorities.
As I reviewed the SCR’s findings, it struck me how naturally this partnership fits the moment. Africa brings the numbers, legitimacy, and continental weight. The Caribbean contributes agility, clarity, and the moral authority of nations unafraid to speak plainly. Together, they have issued unified positions on Haiti, Colombia, and thematic issues that extend far beyond Africa’s borders. This is not mere symbolism; it is strategy.
The SCR captures this as an emerging diplomatic axis within the Council. From my vantage point covering UN negotiations, I see the same thing: a new south-south coalition taking shape in the most powerful chamber of the UN.
Unity as Leverage: A Discipline the Council Did Not Expect
One of the most compelling elements of the SCR report is its tracking of the A3’s joint statements. This metric reveals a level of political discipline far beyond what Council watchers have come to expect from rotating members:
2019: 16
2020: 35
2021: 53
2022: 63
2023: 93
2024: 105
These numbers tell a story: unity is no longer an aspiration; it is operational.
The A3 (and the A3 Plus) no longer take the floor individually unless strategic divergence requires it. They speak together, vote together, and negotiate as a group. As the SCR puts it, their cohesion has “significantly shaped Council outcomes.” Here at the UN, where every diplomat reads between every line, everyone has taken notice.
A Negotiating Bloc with Teeth
In its detailed analysis, the SCR notes a significant indicator of this new non-aligned trend: the shift in how the P3 (France, the UK, and the US) engage the A3. Historically, the P3 shared zero drafts only with China and Russia. Now, they share them with the A3 at the earliest stages.
This is not mere courtesy; it is recognition.
The SCR identifies a growing pattern: on African files, penholders increasingly seek A3 buy-in before negotiations even begin. The A3, for their part, are pushing for pen-holding authority on all African dossiers. This is not the old non-aligned movement—ideologically broad but strategically inconsistent. This is a smaller, smarter, sharper coalition that understands how power actually moves through the Council.
Not Neutral—Independent
What emerges from the SCR’s report is a Global South bloc that is not seeking neutrality but agency. The A3 Plus is not trying to sit out the rivalry between global powers. Instead, it is positioning itself so that its voice cannot be sidelined when those powers clash.
This modern “non-alignment” does not signify the avoidance of conflict; it represents a refusal to be instrumentalized.
Africa and the Caribbean are sending a clear message to the world: "We are not here to rubber-stamp your resolutions, fight your political battles, or validate your geopolitical narratives. We are here to represent our regions and shape the decisions that affect us.”
In the Council’s current state of paralysis, this is not just refreshing—it is necessary.
The Political Moment Ahead
The SCR concludes that the A3 is “on the cusp of becoming an agenda-setter.” After examining the report and observing A3 diplomacy unfold firsthand, I believe that assessment is accurate. However, the SCR also warns that this window of opportunity is fragile. To sustain momentum, the A3 Plus will need:
Stronger strategic coordination with the African Union.
Training and institutional memory for incoming A3 members.
Continuity beyond two-year terms.
A Caribbean seat willing to maintain the partnership.
With Trinidad and Tobago likely stepping in for 2027–2028, the architecture is already forming.
Whether history names it or not, a new movement is emerging inside the Security Council—one that is not non-aligned in ideology but non-submissive in posture. If the SCR report has made anything clear, it’s this: Africa and the Caribbean are no longer content to be spoken for. Together, they are learning how to shape the room.
Conclusion: A New Era of Influence
In conclusion, the rise of the A3 Plus represents a pivotal moment in the UN Security Council. The dynamics are shifting, and the influence of the Global South is becoming increasingly evident. As we move forward, it is crucial to watch how this coalition continues to evolve and assert its agency on the global stage. The implications for international diplomacy and global governance are profound, and the world must take note of this emerging power dynamic.
This is not just a change in representation; it is a transformation in how global issues will be addressed in the future. The A3 Plus is here to stay, and its impact will be felt for years to come.