‘Quarter century passed, how much longer?’: India on UN Security Council reforms

India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ruchira Kamboj, highlighted the need for immediate reforms to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)

While speaking at the 78th session’s informal meeting in New York on Saturday. Noting that discussions on the reforms have been ongoing for more than a decade, she said the “world and our future generations can no longer wait”.

“In addition, world leaders at the Millennium Summit in the year 2000 had resolved to intensify efforts to achieve a comprehensive reform of the Security Council in all its aspects. Nearly a quarter century has passed. The world and our future generations can no longer wait. How much longer must they wait?” Kamboj questioned the inordinate delay in the introduction of reforms to the UN.

Ruchira Kamboj suggested that the reforms must be introduced to celebrate important milestones, such as the 80th anniversary of the United Nations next year, and a vital summit scheduled in September.

“We must push forward a reform heeding the voices of the young and future generations, including from Africa, where the demand to correct historical injustice grows even stronger. Otherwise, we simply risk sending the council down the path of oblivion and irrelevant,” she added.

Kamboj warned against maintaining the status quo and proposed a more inclusive approach, suggesting that limiting the expansion of the UN Security Council only to non-permament members would risk increasing disparities in its composition. She pointed out the need for representatives and equitable participation in the Council’s composition to improve its overall legitimacy.

Ruchira Kamboj also emphasised that the veto power should not hinder the Council’s reform process, calling for flexibility on the issue for constructive negotiations and proposed that new permanent members should not exercise the veto until a decision in made during a review.

India’s G4 colleagues – Brazil, Japan, and Germany – echoed India’s call for a greater representation in the non-permanent category, stressing the significance of reflecting the diversity and plurality of views from the 193 member states.

Furthermore, Ruchira Kamboj suggested the identification of specific groups or countries that deserve special consideration in the reform process and listening carefully to their voices.

The United Kingdom, which is a permanent member of the Council, also tweeted its support for India’s reform suggestions.

“The Security Council should be more representative of today’s world . We support its expansion and want to see a more diverse, effective Council. The G4 nations — Brazil, Germany, India and Japan —should have permanent seats and there should be permanent representation for Africa,” the UK in UN tweeted.

On February 17, Kamboj highlighted that India supports comprehensive reforms to the Council across all five clusters, including an expansion in both the permanent and non-permanent categories.