Renewed call for India’s permanent seat in UNSC

Thursday, 26 Sep, 2024
India has been elected as a non-permanent member of the UNSC eight times, with the most recent being the 2021-22 term. (Photo courtesy: Press Information Bureau)

From US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to French President Emmanuel Macron, world leaders bat for India's addition as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Washington: The world has changed significantly since 1945, and India’s global position has certainly become stronger. The country has sought a permanent seat on the UN Security Council (UNSC) for several years to better represent the interests of the developing world, highlighting its contributions to peacekeeping missions, its expanding global influence, and its status as the world’s largest democracy.

There has also been an increasing call to expand the number of permanent members to better reflect contemporary global realities. At the 79th United Nations General Assembly this week, US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken said the US has long endorsed permanent seats in the council for India, Japan, and Germany.

"Reforming the UN Security Council to better represent the developing world and, more broadly, the world as it is today. The United States believes that this should include two permanent seats for Africa, one rotating seat for Small Island Developing States, and permanent representation for Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition to the permanent seats for countries, we've long endorsed Germany, Japan, and India," he said.

Blinken conveyed America's commitment to adapting the UN system to reflect the current geopolitical situation driving the world, which didn't exist back in 1945. Notably, India’s quest has gained momentum with support from the international community.

During his address at the UN General Assembly, French President Emmanuel Macron batted for India's addition as a permanent member of the UNSC. "Let's make the UN more efficient. We need to make it more representative and that's why France is in favor of the Security Council being expanded. Germany, Japan, India, and Brazil should be permanent members, along with two countries that Africa will decide to represent," he said.

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) comprises 15 member states, including five permanent members with veto power and ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms. The five permanent members of the UNSC include China, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and the United States. The non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council are elected for 2-year terms by the UNGA.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his address at the 'Summit of the Future' at the UN General Assembly in New York, also called for reforms in the global institutions and termed reforms the "key to relevance". He also called the African Union's inclusion as a permanent member in the G20 an "important step" in this direction.