India should get permanent UNSC seat, says France’s Macron – Times of India

NEW DELHI: In a major b0ost to India’s efforts to secure a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), President Emmanuel Macron of France on Thursday that he was fully in support of expanding the body to make it more inclusive and representative of the changing world order.
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Macron said: “France is in favour of the Security Council being expanded. Germany, Japan, India and Brazil should become permanent members, as well as two countries that Africa would designate to represent it.”

But this reform alone would not be enough to restore the Council’s effectiveness, he warned, calling for a change in the body’s working methods, a limitation of the right of veto in cases of mass crimes, and more attention to operational decisions required for maintaining peace.
“The time has come to regain efficiency in order to act better on the ground,” he concluded.
The backdrop of this diplomatic push includes recent challenges faced by the UN in addressing global crises, such as the deadlock over conflicts like the Ukraine war and issues in Gaza. These situations have led to calls for reforming the UNSC to enhance its effectiveness and credibility. Jaishankar noted that as perceptions of the UN’s weakening grow, so too do India’s chances of securing a permanent seat.

Growing voice to include India

India’s push for a permanent seat has gained momentum recently, particularly following a joint statement from the Quad nations—comprising the United States, India, Japan, and Australia—during their sixth summit.
The statement reiterated support for UNSC reform and emphasized the need to make it more inclusive and representative.
US President Joe Biden reaffirmed this support during bilateral talks with PM Narendra Modi, highlighting India’s significant contributions to international peacekeeping and its status as the world’s largest democracy.
Moreover, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated America’s support for India’s bid during a recent summit at the UN General Assembly. He emphasized that reforming the UNSC should include permanent seats for India, Japan, and Germany, alongside representation for Africa and other regions.
Blinken’s remarks underscore a broader recognition among key global players that India’s inclusion would enhance the legitimacy and functionality of the UNSC.

Old order

Currently, only five countries are permanent members of UNSC and have veto powers: US, China, France, Russia and UK. Besides the five permanent members, there are ten non-permanent members in UNSC, who are elected for two-year terms by the UN General Assembly.
All the permanent members, except for China, have in some way supported the expansion of the UNSC.
The existing structure has been criticized for being outdated and unrepresentative of current geopolitical realities, particularly as the number of UN member states has grown from approximately 50 at its inception to 193 today.

‘UN remains prisoner of the past’: Jaishankar

During his recent address at the 2nd G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting – held on the sidelines of UNGA 79 — external affairs minister S Jaishankar said that the United Nations is a prisoner of the past and it must evolve with the world.
“The areas of global governance reform… First is the reform of the UN and its subsidiary bodies. The world has evolved into a smart, interconnected, and multipolar arena, and its members have increased fourfold since UN’s inception. Yet, the UN remains a prisoner of the past. As a result, the UN Security Council struggles to fulfil its mandate of maintaining international peace and stability, undermining its effectiveness and credibility,” he said.
Jaishankar said that the Global South must be given their legitimate voice.
“Without reforms, including expansion in both categories of UNSC membership, its lack of effectiveness will only continue. Expansion and proper representation in the permanent category is a particular imperative. Asia, Africa, and Latin America- the global south cannot continue to be short-changed. They must be given their legitimate voice. Real change needs to happen and happen fast,” he said.