Ameliorate UNSC

Among the 6 main organs of UN, India is demanding for the permanent seat in United nation security council, the most powerful agency. United nation must change, to reflect the altered geopolitical realities in order to stay relevant. There is urgently felt need for internal reform in UN and its agencies especially in case of 15 members in UNSC which need to become more democratic as well as representative.

For becoming representative there must be expansion in member countries from around world. And for UNSC to be
more democratic there need to be curtailing veto power which is at present enjoyed by the P5 members and often misused.

This long overdue demand is raised especially by G4 countries (India, Brazil, Germany and Japan) to get included as the permanent seat. But it gets opposed by COFFEE Club or Uniting for consensus group (Pakistan, Argentina, Italy and South Korea).

Ameliorating reform had gained momentum after the unilateral declaration of war by US and UK against Iraq in 2003. UNGA in 2008 decided to facilitate reform process through the inter-governmental negotiation framework. UNGA adopted a resolution in 2015 to allow IGN on the basis of framework document but nothing much came out of it as US, Russia and China were opposed to any serious reform of UNSC. Due to COVID-19 pandemic this process has been deferred.

Reasons for alarming need of reform:
1. Changed geopolitical situation: Since 1945 the geopolitical realities of the world, have changed. Countries like UK and France are now not much powerful while other countries have gained in strength and are emerging like potential superpowers.
2. Lack of global governance: There are no regulatory mechanism for global commons like Internet, space, high seas (beyond one`s exclusive economic zone).
3.  No unanimity to deal with global issues like terrorism, climate change, cyber security, public health as seen in COVID-19 days.
4.  Undemocratic nature of UNSC: Inequitable economic and geographic representation where Europe is over represented, Asia is under represented and Africa and South America has no representative.
5.  Misuse of veto power is very common among P5 countries to fulfill their national interests.

Why India should get permanent membership in UNSC?
1. India’s historical association with United Nation Organization.
2. India being the largest democracy and the second most populous country in the world.
3. India’s Geopolitical footprints: India acquired status of responsible Nuclear Weapons State in May 1998.
4. Representation of the developing world: India is the undisputed leader of the third world countries, as reflected by its leadership role in the Non-Aligned Movement.

Conclusion:
The council must take steps to revoke the veto power privileges and provide equal rights to all members. It is high time for UN to encompass the diversity among states for better decision-making, protect human rights and to  defend the rights of 193 member states. India should revitalize it’s engagement with other traditional allies constructively.