India once again questioned the granting of a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). India has questioned how much longer can the will of five permanent members of the powerful UN body continue to override the collective voice of the world organisation’s 188 member states.
According to Indian time, late on Saturday night, India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ruchira Kamboj said- it is not possible to create a just and inclusive world without India’s permanent presence. She stressed that “equity” must be the cornerstone of global efforts to reform the 15-nation UN body.
She said- Without India, it would be difficult to take everyone along in the world. There is a need for reforms in the Security Council. she said Equity demands that every nation, irrespective of its size or power, be afforded an equal opportunity to shape global decision-making.
Kamboj’s comment was a reference to the five permanent members of the Council – China, France, Russia, the UK and the US – whose exclusive veto rights have the power to impact decision-making in the Security Council on matters of maintenance of international peace and security. The Council’s other 10 members are elected for two-year terms to the non-permanent category and they do not have veto powers.
Kamboj said expanding only in the non-permanent category of the Council will not solve the problem. “It will in fact will widen the difference between permanent and non-permanent members even more, thereby perpetuating inequities instead of removing…” she said
People Start Looking Solutions Outside
In September 2023, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had said that if there is no change in the UNSC system, people will start looking for solutions outside.
He had said- UNSC has become like an old club. Some members (nations) included in the UNSC do not want to let their hold weaken. They feel that their grip will weaken with the arrival of new members. The club members do not want anyone to question their actions. They do not want the number of members to increase. Without any reform, the influence of the United Nations is decreasing.