REFORMS IN UNSC COUNCIL

REFORMS IN UNSC COUNCIL

NEWS: India, as part of the G4 grouping alongside Brazil, Germany, and Japan, has renewed its call for an expanded and reformed United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?

Reforms in the UN Security Council (UNSC)

  • Core Aim of Reform: The primary goal of reforming the UNSC is to ensure it becomes more representative of contemporary global political and economic realities by including more countries, both as permanent and non-permanent members.
  • Need for Inclusive Membership: Currently, only five countries hold permanent seats with veto power, which skews global decision-making. Reform advocates seek greater inclusion of regions like Africa, Latin America, and Asia, which are underrepresented.
  • Limiting Veto Power: A contentious reform aspect includes curtailing or regulating the use of veto by the P5 (Permanent Five) members to make the UNSC more democratic and efficient.

 

India’s Case for Permanent Membership

  • Peacekeeping Contributions: India is a founding member of the UN and among the top contributors to UN peacekeeping missions, highlighting its commitment to global peace.
  • Democratic and Economic Strength: As the world’s most populous democracy and fifth-largest economy, India brings scale, legitimacy, and capacity to the global table.
  • Principled Global Actor: India adheres to multilateralism, international law, and Panchsheel principles, underscoring its commitment to peaceful international relations.
  • Widespread Support: India’s bid is backed by major powers like France, the UK, Russia, and the USA, reinforcing its global legitimacy.
  • Voice for the Global South: India champions issues affecting developing nations, as evident in its hosting of the "Voice of the Global South Summit" during its 2023 G20 presidency.

 

About the UN Security Council (UNSC)

  • Role and Responsibility: The UNSC is one of the six core UN bodies responsible for maintaining international peace and security.
  • Key Powers: It can approve new UN members, recommend changes to the UN Charter, impose sanctions, and authorize military actions.
  • Membership Composition: It has 15 members—5 permanent (P5) and 10 non-permanent elected for two-year terms.

 

Timeline of Key UN Reforms

  • 1997: Kofi Annan launched two reform tracks—structural and management-related.
  • 2000: The MDGs marked a global effort to tackle poverty, health, and education.
  • 2004: Reform models to expand UNSC membership were proposed.
  • 2005: The report “In Larger Freedom” called for sweeping UN reforms.
  • 2006: Human Rights Council replaced the ineffective Human Rights Commission.
  • 2007–2016: Ban Ki-moon oversaw the launch of the SDGs and the Paris Agreement.
  • 2015: SDGs replaced MDGs, defining 17 global goals till 2030.
  • 2017–2020: Antonio Guterres emphasized reform of peace and security structures.

 

Need for UNSC Reforms

  • Concentration of Power: The UNSC wields disproportionate authority in global affairs; hence, its composition must reflect contemporary geopolitical shifts.
  • Outdated Structure: The P5 structure mirrors post-World War II realities, not current global power dynamics.
  • Underrepresentation: Regions like Africa (with 54 nations), Latin America, and Asia are not adequately represented. India, despite its size and role, lacks permanent membership.
  • Veto Paralysis: The veto power often blocks timely action in crises (e.g., Syria, Ukraine), making reform crucial.
  • Legitimacy Crisis: The dominance of P5 undermines trust in the Council’s fairness, necessitating democratization.

 

G4 Proposal for UNSC Expansion

  • Expansion Plan: G4 proposes increasing total UNSC members to 25 or 26—11 permanent and 14–15 non-permanent.
  • Regional Representation Focus: The proposal emphasizes equitable representation for all global regions while rejecting religious or faith-based criteria.
  • Pact for the Future (2024):

·         Adopted at the UNGA’s "Summit of the Future"

·         Prioritizes Africa’s representation and includes proposals for Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Western Europe.

·         India is among the Asia-Pacific contenders for permanent seats.

 

Need for Text-Based Negotiations

  • Structured Negotiations: Text-based talks with clear timelines and milestones are crucial to move from abstract debates to actionable reforms.
  • G4 Encouragement: G4 nations urge all members to submit reform models to build a consensus for detailed negotiations.

 

Rejection of Partial Expansion

  • Flaws in Limited Expansion: G4 opposes expanding only non-permanent seats as it:

·         Doesn’t fix permanent seat imbalance.

·         Ignores Africa and the Global South’s demands.

·         Risks strengthening current P5 dominance.

 

Reform of UNSC Working Methods

  • Transparency and Accountability: Reforms must also address opaque UNSC procedures. Proposals include better documentation, public briefings, and more equitable speaking rights.

Support from France

  • Backing G4 and Africa: France supports permanent membership for India, Brazil, Germany, Japan, and two African nations.
  • Veto for New Members: It believes future permanent members should enjoy veto power, ensuring equality with the existing P5.

 Other Groups Advocating for Reform

  • Ezulwini Consensus (Africa):

·         Calls for at least 2 permanent and 5 non-permanent seats for Africa.

·         Aims to correct historical exclusion.

  • L.69 Group:

·         A coalition of 42 developing countries including India.

·         Advocates for Global South representation.

  • C-10 (African Nations):

·         Ten nations advocating the Common African Position.

  • IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa):

·         Seeks inclusive UN reform aligned with G4 and L.69 goals.

 

Challenges to UNSC Reform

  • P5 Resistance: Permanent members are reluctant to dilute their power, especially veto authority.
  • Uniting for Consensus (UfC) Group:

·         Opposes more permanent seats.

·         Proposes a 27-member UNSC without additional permanent members.

  • Lack of Consensus: Divergences between groups (G4, UfC, Africa) impede progress.
  • China’s Opposition to India: China blocks India’s claim citing lack of full consensus.
  • Disagreements on Criteria: There’s no agreement on whether criteria should be based on population, economy, region, or other factors.
  • Procedural Delays: IGN meetings lack binding timelines, leading to repeated and unproductive discussions.

 

India and the UN

  • Founding Participation: India was a founding signatory of the UN in 1942 and participated in the 1945 San Francisco Conference.
  • Global Leadership:

·         Championed decolonization and anti-apartheid.

·         Founded NAM and G77 to amplify developing country voices.

  • Peacekeeping Pioneer: Largest troop contributor to UN peacekeeping with over 244,500 personnel in 49 missions.
  • Empowering Women: First to deploy an all-women police unit in peacekeeping (Liberia, 2007).
  • UNSC Non-Permanent Membership: India served as a non-permanent member 8 times, most recently in 2021–22.

 

 Way Forward

  • Pushing for Written Proposals: India must advocate for specific, time-bound reform proposals.
  • Building Global Consensus: India should mediate between divergent groups and foster convergence among G4, UfC, and African groups.
  • Using Strategic Alliances: Partnerships like BRICS, QUAD, and South-South coalitions can amplify reform calls.
  • Active Multilateral Diplomacy: Beyond the UN, India should lead in global governance platforms (NAM, WTO, G20, etc.) to reinforce its role.

 

Conclusion

  • Need for Reform: An updated UNSC is essential for credibility, equity, and responsiveness in global governance.
  • Inclusive Process: Reforms must be timely, transparent, and inclusive—based on consensus, equity, and accountability.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-united-nations-security-council-permanent-seat-kuwait-official-2710956-2025-04-18