India May Become a UN Security Council Permanent Member Soon
Dalal Street, India's Wall Street, Mumbai
In a speech to the Summit of the Future at the United Nations this week, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told world leaders he supports reforming the United Nations Security Council and the United States continues its long-held endorsement of adding India, Japan, and Germany with permanent spots.
The current permanent members of the United Nations Security Council— the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, and France—reflect the global power structure of the 1940s. However, the world is different today: the UK and France no longer rank among the top five economies, while Germany, India, and Japan do.
The United Kingdom and France have also backed India’s bid to join the council. India’s foreign minister S. Jaishanker has confirmed to The Hindu that India is likely to join the council soon.
The UN charter does not explain a clear way for a nation to become a permanent member, which will likely require an amendment that will need to be approved by two-thirds of the 193 UN member countries. However, the Security Council offers 10 non-permanent seats to countries elected by the General Assembly for a two-year term. India has been elected to a non-permanent seat the fourth highest number of times, after Japan, Brazil, and Argentina, in that order.
China opposes India (and Japan) joining the Security Council, as it threatens its vision to be Asia’s sole regional hegemon.
The permanent members of the UN Security Council hold a unique position due to their veto power over all resolutions passed by the General Assembly. While India's potential actions in this role remain uncertain, its most notable stance at the United Nations has been its consistent abstention from votes regarding resolutions related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
