The United Nations Global Assembly for the year 2024 was held from 20th September to 27th September. The ongoing global conflicts in the Middle East and Europe region heavily dominated the session. However, a substantial amount of discussion was on the issue of the reformation of the UN Security Council’s permanent membership.
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC), an acting body of the UN created under Chapter V of the United Nations Charter (UNC), was established in 1945 after the end of the Second World War. Initially, it consisted of five permanent members and six non-permanent members. The non-permanent members are to be elected in a two-year term in rotation. In 1995 the charter was amended and the seats of non-permanent members increased from six to ten. Decisions regarding global security were passed through this body by the elected members. However, the crux of power is concentrated in the hands of the five permanent members- the P5, in the form of veto. Any resolution to be passed and later acted has to have the simultaneous agreement of the P5 without a single disagreement and the veto is that power of disagreement. A single veto will stop a motion however important it is.
The permanent members- the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China and Russia- have long abused this power in their interest as well as to shield themselves from accountability in direct warfare, proxy wars, terror-promoting and financial backhanding. Although claiming to be the primary organ of the Global body the UNSC fails to represent most of Africa, Latin America and Asia. The Security Council has, for the most part, proven to be ineffective, or even powerless, when it comes to stopping or preventing inter-state conflict and terrorism deeming it a relic of post-World War II world order.
Thus, the call for amendments in the charter intensified and at the forefront of it is India. As the leader of the Global South, it has long been advocated for expansion in permanent membership for the accurate representation of the current global state. India in March presented a detailed model for the reform of the security council. And for the first time, this year’s summit took a step that cemented the foundation for this call. The Summit for the Future at the United Nations on September 22 by consensus adopted a document titled “Pact of the Future”, that calls for the “reform [of] the Security Council, recognising the urgent need to make it more representative, inclusive, transparent, efficient, effective, democratic and accountable”. It is the first time the need to reform this global institution is put down in black and white on the UN text. Several countries supported this call during their address in the general assembly.
Countries Supporting India’s Bid for Permanent Seat in UNSC
The United Nations of America is one of the prominent voices who support India’s bid for reform. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken supported the expansion, proposing a permanent set for Latin America, two for Africa one of which is a rotating seat and permanent seats for Japan, Germany and India. This sentiment was also reflected in this year’s QUAD summit as its joint statement reaffirmed the country’s stance. “We will reform the UN Security Council, recognizing the urgent need to make it more representative, inclusive, transparent, efficient, effective, democratic and accountable through expansion in permanent and non-permanent categories of membership of the UN Security Council. This expansion of permanent seats should include representation for Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean in a reformed Security Council, the QUAD jointly announced in the ‘Wilmington Declaration’.
France also showed its support for the reform by advocating permanent seats for India, Brazil, Japan, Germany and Africa. “France supports the candidacy of Germany, Brazil, India and Japan as permanent members. We would also like to see a stronger presence of African countries, including among the permanent members. The remaining seats should be allocated in order to achieve equitable geographical representation” said Deputy Permanent Representative of France to the UN Nathalie Broadhurst. President Macron also supported this in his speech addressing the General Assembly. He also urged the P5 to limit their use of the veto in cases of mass atrocities.
Prime Minister Keir Stramer of the United Kingdom also came to support the expansion of the Permanent seat of the UNSC. “It has to change to become a more representative body, willing to act – not paralysed by politics. We want to see permanent African representation on the Council, Brazil, India, Japan and Germany as permanent members, and more seats for elected members as well,” he stated during his address at UNGA.
Apart from these, Portugal, Chile, Angola, Micronesia, Germany, Japan, and Brazil also came in for the support of the motion. The President of Chile Gabriel Boric Font proposed that the institution set a deadline for this reform so that when the UN celebrates its 80th anniversary next year it’ll do so with a Security Counsel that will be in line with current times.
With outstanding support, India’s bid for permanent membership got huge momentum and a real chance of succeeding in this cause. However, it also has its fair share of roadblocks on its way.
Obstacles in, India Becoming Permanent Member of UNSC
For any motion to be passed in the UNSC, it needs the unanimous agreement of the P5 and in India’s case, the only hindrance to this unanimity will be China. The country has been the only one in Asia to be in the P5 and throughout its history it has abused its veto power in self-interest. India’s relations with Japan and the West also are not in favour of China along with its relations with Beijing. China has unofficially hinted its support for India’s bid if it does not back Japan’s bid for the permanent seat. However, it is unlikely that India will retreat from the G4- Brazil, Japan, Germany and India- deeming China’s vote uncertain.
Another obstacle is with the Western Powers that India may have issues with. In several key global issues, India takes an independent stance despite having substantial pressure from Western allies. With the permanent membership, this power struggle could tilt into India’s favour. Traditionally the permanent members are keen to hold the veto power within themselves. Several alternatives are put forward in the discussion to expand the Security Council without expanding its veto power. This came from a president set by former U.S. Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns when in a 2008 interview he said, “We want to preserve the veto, and we do not want to extend a veto to new permanent members.” However, India currently will never accept this compromised deal as it’ll be productive not only for itself but also for the countries it is advocating for.
Despite these, it is without a doubt that the global institution is in serious need of reform and India must build itself both internally and externally to gain from as well as lead this motion forward.