United Nations Security Council (UNSC)

The Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) Chairperson has recently highlighted India's growing influence in global affairs and emphasized its strong position in the context of reforming the UNSC. India’s bid for a permanent seat in the UNSC has gained momentum due to its demographic, economic, and geopolitical strengths.

About Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN)

• Purpose: The IGN process within the UN General Assembly (UNGA) focuses on reforming the UN Security Council to make it more representative of contemporary global realities.

• Goal: It aims to expand the UNSC, ensuring a fair representation of all regions and addressing outdated structures, particularly the disproportionate influence of the P5 countries (USA, UK, France, Russia, China).

Five Core Issues in UNSC Reform:

1. Categories of Membership: Should new permanent members be added?

2. Veto Power: Should new members be granted veto rights?

3. Regional Representation: Ensuring that regions like Africa and Latin America have fair representation.

4. Size of Enlarged UNSC: Proposals suggest expanding the council to 21–27 members.

5. Working Methods: Improving decision-making processes and transparency.

Need for UNSC Reform

1. Outdated Power Structure: The current UNSC structure reflects the geopolitical balance of power in 1945, post-World War II, not the current global order.

   • P5 members hold permanent seats with veto power, making the council unrepresentative of the modern geopolitical landscape.

2. Lack of Representation:

   • Africa and Latin America are notably underrepresented despite comprising large populations and contributing significantly to global peacekeeping.

   • Developing countries feel sidelined, which undermines the legitimacy and effectiveness of the UNSC.

3. Ineffective Decision-Making:

   • The veto power of the P5 has often led to deadlock and prevented timely interventions in crises like Syria and Ukraine.

   • Reforms are necessary to broaden consensus and allow the UNSC to be more effective and inclusive.

India’s Bid for Permanent Membership in the UNSC

Why India?

• Demographic and Economic Strength:

  • World's most populous country with over 1.4 billion people.

  • 5th largest economy globally with immense market size, technological capabilities, and strategic influence.

• Global Peacekeeping Role:

  • India has contributed significantly to UN peacekeeping efforts, with over 250,000 troops deployed across 49 out of 71 peacekeeping missions.

• Democratic Credentials:

  • As the world’s largest democracy, India’s inclusion would balance the Council by bringing in a democratic perspective, as opposed to authoritarian regimes.

• Nuclear Responsibility:

  • India is a nuclear-armed state, yet adheres to a ‘No First Use’ policy and remains committed to non-proliferation. While not a signatory to the NPT, it criticizes the treaty for being discriminatory.

India's Global Aspirations:

• Multipolar World: India advocates for a multipolar global system, where power is shared among various nations rather than concentrated in a single bloc.

• Global South Solidarity: India actively champions the causes of the Global South, such as climate justice, food security, and debt relief for developing countries.

• G20 Leadership: India’s G20 presidency and its inclusion of the African Union as a permanent member demonstrates India’s commitment to inclusive global governance.

Strategic Autonomy:

• India insists on maintaining a sovereign path, staying independent of any geopolitical bloc, as evidenced by its role in both BRICS and QUAD, which includes competing powers.

Opposition and Challenges to UNSC Reform

1. Consensus Issues:

   • Reforming the UNSC requires a two-thirds majority in the General Assembly and the approval of all P5 members.

   • Despite strong support from various countries and regional blocs (e.g., African Union, ASEAN, CARICOM), the road to reform remains challenging.

2. China’s Opposition:

   • China, the only P5 member to oppose India’s bid, stands as a significant impediment.

   • Geopolitical rivalry, border disputes, and strategic alliances (e.g., with Pakistan) shape China’s opposition.

3. G4 and United for Consensus:

   • India is part of the G4 (India, Germany, Brazil, and Japan), which collectively seeks permanent UNSC seats.

   • However, the United for Consensus group (including Italy, Pakistan, Mexico, and Egypt) opposes new permanent members, favoring equitable regional representation instead.

4. Slow Progress in Reform:

   • The IGN process has made limited tangible progress, with many critics arguing that it leads to endless discussions without meaningful outcomes.

Conclusion

India's bid for a permanent seat in the UNSC is a reflection of its growing global stature, commitment to multilateralism, and desire for greater representation in global governance. Despite facing challenges, especially from China and opposing regional groups, India continues to garner strong international support.