India’s efforts to become permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) are expected to gain a fresh momentum as the US, amid growing voices advocating reforms in the international body, has once again supported India’s bid in this direction.
US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, has said India, along with Japan and Germany, is a well-deserving candidate for a permanent position in the UNSC.
This comes when discussions aimed at reforming and modernizing the UNSC, and aligning it with the evolving global order are on.
On September 12, Thomas-Greenfield outlined a set of proposals for UNSC reforms, underscoring her country’s commitment to creating a more inclusive and representative UNSC.
The United Nations General Assembly summit, themed – Multilateral Solutions for a Better Tomorrow – is scheduled to held later this month.
India would be represented in the meetings and other programmes by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
The meet of the UNGA set to begin on September 22, followed by a general debate from September 24 to 30, reports said.
Thomas-Greenfield reiterating the US’ support for broader Security Council reforms, include adding permanent seats for two African nations and increasing temporary representation for other countries in the continent.
Thomas-Greenfield, while acknowledging the G4 coalition of Brazil, Germany, India, and Japan who support each other to be on the UNSC, emphasized that India as the world’s most populous country has a rightful claim to permanent membership.
“There is no justification for denying India a permanent seat,” she was quoted as saying by media reports.
The China Factor
Meanwhile, India might face opposition from China once again as the country did in 2021.
India officially acknowledged it, saying China had been the biggest impediment to India gaining membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and the UNSC.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had openly said there was “duality” in China’s behaviors towards India.
“There was China’s opposition to India’s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group and to a permanent seat in the UN Security Council. When it came to trade, promises of market access did not match delivery. The blocking of UN listing of Pakistani terrorists involved in attacks on India had its own resonance,” he was quoted as saying in the reports.