After French President Emmanuel Macron, it was the turn of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to support India’s bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Starmer, speaking at the UN General Assembly, said it was important that the Security Council changes to become a more representative body which is 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 said.
Starmer's statement comes a day after Macron advocated the expansion of the UN body, stating that the current UNSC is blocked. "Let's make the UN more efficient. That's why France is in favour of the Security Council being expanded. Germany, Japan, India, and Brazil should be permanent members, as well as two countries that Africa will decide to represent it," Macron said.
Earlier, US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken too had vocalised US's endorsement for permanent seats in the council for India, Japan and Germany. "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.
This comes as Prime Minister, during his recent visit to the United Nations, called for reforms in the United Nations. He had earlier too slammed the skewed geographical representation in the UNSC. "How can we talk of it as a primary organ of a global body, when entire continents of Africa and Latin America are ignored? How can it claim to speak for the world when its most populous country, and its largest democracy, is not a permanent member," Modi asked.
However, experts believe despite the push, it is unlikely that India would win a permanent seat at the UNSC, the major reason being China's opposition. All five permanent security council members, except China, have endorsed India's candidature in the past, including Russia. However, China refuses to follow suit, considering it is a close competitor of India in regional and international politics and the current border disputes between the countries.
Not just India, even Japan might find China's opposition a hindrance for its bid for a permanent seat.
Experts add though there were propositions from Groups that India could be added as a member without a veto power, India is not reportedly happy with this proposition.
Even the US would want to protect its veto power, and though has endorsed India gaining a permanent seat in principle, it won't do so in practice. US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns said in 2008 that the country would want to preserve the veto and "do not want to extend a veto to new permanent members."
Many also suggest India's foreign policy- non-commital stance Western interests, including in Russia-Ukraine conflict, could be a reason for the Western nations to adopt such a stance in principle.