UK PM Starmer joins Macron, backs India's bid to for permanent UN security council seat
- In Reports
- 01:50 PM, Sep 27, 2024
- Myind Staff
In his speech at the 79th UN General Assembly, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed support for India's admission to the UNSC as a permanent member. Keir Starmer is the second dignitary to come to India’s support following prior backing from French President Emmanuel Macron.
During his speech at the UN General Assembly, Starmer said, “The Security Council has to change to become a more representative body, willing to act – not paralysed by politics. We want to see more seats for elected members as well as permanent African representation on the Council, as well as permanent members Brazil, India, Japan, and Germany.”
The five permanent members of the UN Security Council—the US, China, France, Russia, and the UK—each of them possesses veto power. The remaining ten members are chosen for two-year terms and are not permanent members. The main responsibilities of the Council are to investigate conflicts, establish peacekeeping missions, and, if required, impose sanctions. It is an important participant in international diplomacy since it addresses conflicts and crises on a global scale.
During his speech to the UN General Assembly the day before, Macron strongly endorsed India's admission as a permanent member of the UNSC. He said, “Let’s make the UN more efficient. We need to make it more representative and that’s why France is in favour of the Security Council being expanded.”
Since 1979, the issue of fair representation has been on the Assembly's agenda. However, with global conflict intensifying, calls for reform became more and more loud. Numerous countries, including the US and other permanent members of the UNSC, have voiced support for India's admission to this influential group. China, however, has objected to this action.
India has continued to push the UNSC reform process forward under successive administrations, among other things by actively participating in the ongoing Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on the Security Council reform. New Delhi has pushed for the UNSC to be expanded to include more countries as permanent members in order to reflect the geopolitical realities of today. The G4 is composed of Brazil, Germany, Japan, and other countries.
India reiterated its long-standing stance on Thursday, demanding immediate reform of the UN Security Council to increase its efficacy, democracy, and accountability. Indian diplomat Tanmaya Lal emphasised the critical need for UNSC reform during an Open Debate on Leadership for Peace here, claiming that the antiquated body is unable to adequately handle the growing number of international conflicts and security issues.
The United Nations Security Council was founded more than eight decades ago, when many of its member states were still colonies, as noted by Secretary (West) of the Ministry of External Affairs. Lal urged for text-based negotiations, saying that "the UNSC has to become representative, transparent, efficient, effective, democratic, and accountable." He attacked those who are opposing significant changes to the global governance framework, saying that this undermines the legitimacy of the UN, without mentioning any specific nations.
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