Backing India’s appeal for reforms in the United Nations Security Council(UNSC), External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has taken a dig at those opposing the proposed changes, saying those who are beneficiaries of the old system are resistant to that change as they feel it would “dilute” their positions of privilege.
Jaishankar, who is on a three-day visit to Sweden, interacted with the Indian community in Stockholm late Sunday and highlighted the transformations underway in India during his visit there for bilateral talks and the European Union (EU) Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum (EIPMF).
Meanwhile, he conducted a series of high-level discussions including at the India Trilateral Forum on Monday as part of his first visit to Sweden, which currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Along with his Swedish counterpart Tobias Billstrom, Jaishankar covered a wide range of issues during the inaugural session of the Trilateral Forum which includes India, Europe and the US.
“Jointly participated in the India Trilateral Forum with FM @TobiasBillstrom in Stockholm this morning,” tweeted Jaishankar.
“An energetic conversation on a wide-range of contemporary issues,” he said.
Earlier, during a meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, the minister said he conveyed the personal greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Value his commitment towards strengthening the India-Sweden relationship,” he said.
Jaishankar also tweeted after a “good discussion” with Henrik Landerholm, the National Security Advisor of Sweden, during which the duo exchanged strategic assessments of Europe and Indo-Pacific. This followed a meetings with Andreas Norlén, Speaker of the Riksdag of Sweden on Monday morning, during which Jaishankar said he welcomed contacts between “our two Parliamentary democracies; also exchanged perspectives on our respective regions”.
On Sunday, Jaishankar held wide ranging discussions with his Swedish counterpart and exchanged views on Indo-Pacific, European strategic situation and de-risking the global economy.
“Wide ranging discussions with FM @TobiasBillstrom as India and Sweden mark 75 years of diplomatic ties. Committed to taking bilateral cooperation to a higher level. Exchanged views on Indo-Pacific, European strategic situation and de-risking the global economy,” he tweeted.
He also met Sweden's Defence Minister Pal Jonson and the two leaders had “useful exchange of views on regional and global security.”
From Sweden, Jaishankar will head to Brussels for the first meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council, where he will be joined by Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs and Food and Public Distribution and Textiles Piyush Goyal and Minister of Railways, Communications, Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw.
Responding to a question if he sees any potential for India to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council(UNSC), Jaishankar said during his interaction with the Indian diaspora in Stockholm the effectiveness of the United Nations has come under question with each passing year and for the good, it should be reformed.
India has been at the forefront of the UN to push for an urgent long-pending reform of the Security Council. India has emphasised that it rightly deserves a place at the UN high table as a permanent member.
The five permanent members are Russia, the UK, China, France and the United States and these countries can veto any substantive resolution.
There are also 10 elected non-permanent members who serve two-year terms. India completed its tenure as a non-permanent member of the Council in December last year.
“Now, the problem today is like any, any institution, those who are previous beneficiaries are resistant to that change, which they feel would in some way, dilute the positions of privilege. Now, some of them may be more so some of them less so I think the wiser ones will say okay, life is changing. Let me change with it,” he said.
The minister said during the reform process, some countries will say it is useful for them to have a country like India, and there would be others who may not oppose the country openly but through their actions and policy would try to ensure that the status quo is maintained.
He said reforming an organisation which has more than 190 nations as members is very hard. “So even sitting in the room to discuss it itself is a challenge,” he said.