The Uniting for Consensus (UfC) is an international movement and interest-based grouping within the United Nations General Assembly that opposes the creation of new permanent seats on the UN Security Council (UNSC). It originated in 1995 as the "Coffee Club," founded by Italy, Pakistan, Mexico, and Egypt, to reject the proposal to increase the number of permanent members. The movement was formally relaunched under the UfC banner in 2005.
The UfC's primary purpose is to counter the bids for permanent seats proposed by the G4 nations—Brazil, Germany, Japan, and India—which seek permanent membership for themselves. The group argues that increasing permanent seats would entrench privilege, accentuate disparity, and make the Council less democratic and accountable. The UfC's core mechanism is to operate as a blocking coalition within the Inter-Governmental Negotiations (IGN) framework, insisting that reform must be pursued by consensus to prevent a forced General Assembly vote.
The UfC proposes an alternative model that favors expanding only the category of non-permanent seats. Its March 2024 model, presented during the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, envisions an expansion of elective seats up to a maximum of 27 members. This model includes creating longer-term non-permanent seats, some with terms of 3–5 years, with the possibility of immediate re-election, which is currently excluded by the UN Charter. This proposal connects to the existing structure of the UNSC, which currently has five permanent members with veto power and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms. The UfC also promotes improving the Council's working methods and limiting the use of the veto power. The group, co-led by Italy and Pakistan, includes members like Canada, South Korea, Argentina, and Spain.